hb 






Inaknb d t|^ tlar: 



HUMOROUS, PATHETIC, 



AND 



DESCRIPTIVE. 



BY 



ALF BURNETT, 

COMIC DELINEATOR, ARMY CORRESPONDENT, HUM0BI8T, 
hie, ETC. 




CINCINNATI: 
RICKEY & CARROLL, PUBLISHERS, 

73 WEST FOURTH STREET. 
1863. 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1863, by • 

RICKEY & CARROLL, 

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern 
Liistrict of Ohio. 



e 






<^0^ 



'J\ 



STEREOTYPED AT THE 

FRANKLIN TYPE FOUNDRY, 

CINCINNATI. 



SKETCH OF THE AUTHOR. 

BY ENOS B. REED. 



The author of the following sketches, letters, etc., has 
been known to us for lo, these many years. We have 
always found him " a fellow of infinite jest," and one 
who, ''though troubles assailed," always looked upon 
the bright side of life, leaving its reverse to those who 
could not behold the silver lining to the darkling clouds 
of their moral horizon. We could fill a good-sized vol- 
ume with anecdotes illustrating the humorous in Mr. 
Burnett's composition, and his keen appreciation of the 
grotesque and ludicrous — relating how he has, many a 
time and oft, "set the table in a roar," by his quaint 
sayings and the peculiar manner in which they were 
said; but we are "admonished to be brief," four pages 
only being allotted to "do up" the veritable "Don 
Alfredus," better known by the familiar appellation. 
"Alf." 

Mr. Burnett has been a resident of Cincinnati for the 

past twenty-seven years, his parents removing thereto 

from Utica, New York, in 1836. Alf, at the Utica 

Academy, in his earliest youth, was quite noted as a 

declaimer; his "youth but gave promise of the man," 

Mr. B., at the present time, standing without a peer in 

his peculiar line of declamation and oratory. In 1845, 

he traveled with Professor De Bonneville, giving his 

(iii) 



IV SKETCH OF THE AUTHOE. 

wonderful rendition of " The Maniac," so as to attract 
the attention of the literati throughout the country. 

Perhaps one great reason for Mr. Burnett's adopting 
his present profession was a remark made by the cele- 
brated tragedian, Edwin Forrest. Mr. B. had been 
invited to meet Mr. Forrest at the residence of S. S. 
Smith, Esq. Mr. Burnett gave several readings, which 
caused Mr. Forrest to make the remark, that " Mr. 
B. had but to step upon the stage to reach fortune and 
renown." " Upon this hint " Mr. B. acted, and at once 
entered upon the duties of his arduous profession. In 
his readings and recitations he soon discovered that it 
was imperative, to insure a pleasant entertainment, that 
humor should be largely mingled with pathos ; hence, 
he introduced a series of droll and comical pieces, in 
the rendition of which he is acknowledged to have no 
equal. As a mimic and ventriloquist he stands pre- 
eminent, and his entertainment is so varied with pa- 
thos, wit, and humor, that an evening's amusement of 
wonderful versatility is afforded. 

Mr. Burnett is a remarkably ready writer — too ready, 
to pay that care and attention to the " rules," which is 
considered, and justly so, to be indispensable to a cor- 
rect writer. To illustrate the rapidity with which he 
composes, we have but to repeat a story, which a 
mutual friend relates. He met Alf, one afternoon, 
about five o'clock, he being announced to deliver an 
original poem in the evening, of something less than a 
hundred verses. In the midst of the conversation which 
ensued, Alf suddenly recollected that he had not written 
a line thereof, and, making his excuses, declared he must 
go home and write up the " little affair." In the evening 
a voluminous poem was forthcoming, Alf, in all proba- 



SKETCH OP THE AUTHOR. V 

bility, having " done it up" in half an hour "by Shrews- 
bury clock." 

Mr. Burnett has contributed various poems to the 
literature of the country, which have stamped him as 
being possessed of a more than ordinary share of the 
divine afSatus. Among them is " The Sexton's Spade," 
which has gained a world-wide celebrity. The writer 
has been connected with Mr. Burnett in the publica- 
tion of two or three papers, which, somehow or other, 
never won their way into popular favor : either the 
public had very bad taste, or the "combined forces" 
had not the ability to please, or the perseverance to 
continue until success crowned their labors. 

In the commencement of the war, Mr. Burnett was 
on a tour of the State, in the full tide of prosperity. 
Immediately after Sumter fell, he summoned to him, 
by telegraph, his traveling agent, together with Mr. 
George Humphreys, who had, as an assistant, been with 
him for years. A consultation was held, which resulted 
in the determination of all three to enlist in the service 
of their country. The agent repaired to Chillicothe and 
joined the 27th Ohio ; Humphreys joined the oth Ohio, 
and Mr. Burnett enlisted as high private in the 6th 
Ohio, and served with his regiment in West Virginia, 
throughout that memorable campaign. 

Mr. Burnett was subsequently engaged by the Cin- 
cinnati Press, Times, and Commercial, as war corre- 
spondent. His letters were read with great avidity, and 
were replete with wit, humor, and interesting anecdote. 
His extensive acquaintance enabled him to gather the 
earliest information, and his letters were always consid- 
ered among the most reliable. A number of them will 
be found in the succeeding pages. 



VI SKETCH OF THE AUTHOR. 

That " Incidents of the War " will be found \\ • 
structive and entertaining, we can but believe, although 
Mr. Burnett's professional engagements precluded the 
possibility of his devoting that time and attention to its 
preparation which was almost imperative. It lays no 
particular claim to merit as a literary production — 
being a collection of letters and incidents, which Mr. 
B.'s publishers thought would be palatable to the pub- 
lic in their present form. 

In the volume will be found several pieces for the 
superior rendition of which Mr, Burnett has been 
highly extolled. At the close will be found a famous 
debate, which, although not an incident of the war, is 
peculiarly spirited, and was delivered by Mr. Burnett 
before General Rosecrans. 

For the graphic illustrations accompanying the vol- 
ume, Mr, Burnett is indebted to Messrs. Jones & Hart, 
engravers, and Messrs. Ball & Thomas, photographic 
artists. 

Mr. Burnett is still engaged in giving readings and 
recitations, in city and village, and, since the death of 
Winchell, stands almost alone in his profession. Upon 
a visit to England, some years since, he gained the 
praise of the English press and public, as a correct de- 
lineator of the passions, mimic, and humorist. He is 
never so well pleased as when before an a^udience, and 
receiving the applause of the judicious. 

In conclusion, le-t us hope that " Incidents of the 
War" may be welcomed by that large number who 
have had relatives in the armies of the Union, and 
whose names may, perchance, be found in its pages, 
while we know the numerous friends of Mr, Burnett 
will hail its appearance with unfeigned delight. 



CONTENTS. 



PAGE 

CHAPTER 1 13 

Pheparatoey Kemauks — Camp-Life — Incidents of the Battle of Pekkt- 
viLLE — Briqabier-General Lytle — Captain McDougal, of the 3d Ohio 
— Colonel Loomis — After the Battle — Rebels Playing 'Possum — • 
Skeeeed ! That aint no Name for it — Camp Fun, in a Burlesque Let- 
ter TO A Friend. 

CHAPTER II 23 

General Nelson — The General and the Pie-Women — The Watchful Sen- 
tinel OF the 2d Kentucky — The Wagon-Master op the 17th Indiana — ■ 
Death of General Nelson — His Funeral — Colonel Nick Anderson's 
Opinion of Nelson. 

CHAPTER III 37 

Description of a Battle — The 2d Ohio (Colonel Harris) at Peeryville^ 
Majoe-General McCook's Report — Majou-Geneeal Rousseau's Report 
— Sketch of Major-General A. McD. McCook. 

CHAPTER IV 47 

Looking foe the Body of a Dead Nephew on the Field op Muefrees- 
BORO — The 6th Ohio at Murfreesboro — The Dead of the 6th — The 
35th Indiana — Putting Contr.vbands to Some Service — Anxiety of Own- 
ers to Retain their Slaves — Conduct of a Mistress — " Do n't Shoot, 
Massa, here I Is ! " — Kidd's Safeguard — " Always Been a Union Man" 
— Negroes Exhibiting theie Preference for their Friends. 

CHAPTER V 57 

Cutting Down a Rebel's Reserved Timber — Home Again — Loomis and his 

COLDWATER BaTTERY — SECESSION POETHY — HEAVY JOKE ON AN " EGYP- 
TIAN " Regiment. 

CHAPTER VI 64 

General Turchin — Mrs. General Tuechin in Command of the Vanguard 
OF the 19th Illinois — The 18th Ohio at Athens — Children and Fools 
Always Tell the Truth — Picket Talk — About Soldiers Voting — Cap- 
tain Kirk's Line of Battle. 



(Vii) 



Vm CONTENTS, 

PAGE 

CHAPTEE VII 70 

Comic Scknes — Importation of Yankees — Would n't Go Round — Major Botn- 

TON AND THE ChIC'KEN— MONOTONY OF CaMP-LiFE — EXPERIENCE ON A SCOUT- 
ING Expedition— Larz Anderson, Esq., in Camp — A Would-be Seces- 
sionist Caught in his Own Trap — Guthrie Gray Bill of Fare foe a 
Bebel " Eeception " — Pic Russell among the Snakes. 



CHAPTEE VIII. 



Fun in the r23D Ohio — A Thrilling Incident of the War — General Kelley 
— Vote Under Strange Circumstances — Die, but Never Surrender. 

CHAPTEE IX 87 

Our Hospitals — No Hope — A Short and Simple Story— A Soldier's Pride — 
The Last Letter — Soldierly Sympathy — The Hospitals at Gallatin, 
and their Ministering Angels. 

CHAPTEE X 99 

Sports in Camp — Anecdote of the 6.3d Ohio and Colonel Speague — Sol- 
dier's Dream of Home — The Wife's Reply. 

CHAPTEE XI 107 

The Atrocities of Slavery — The Beauties of the Peculiar Institution— 
A FEW Well-substantiated Facts — Visit to Gallatin, Tennessee. 

CHAPTEE XII 124 

General Schofield — Colonel Durbin Ward — Colonel Connell — Women in 
Breeches — ^Another Incident of the War — Negro Sermon. 

CHAPTEE XIII 135 

Letter from Cheat Mountain — The Women of the South — Gilbert's 
Brigade. 

CHAPTEE XIV 143 

Confessions of a Fat Man — Home-Guard — The Negro on the Fence — A 
Camp Letter of Early Times — "Sweethaets" Against War. 

CHAPTEE XV 156 

The Winter Campaign in Virginia — Didn't Know of the Rebellion — Gen- 
eral W. H. Lytle — Drilling — A Black Nightingale's Song. 

CHAPTEE XVI 167 

Old Stonnickee and Colonel Marrow, of 3d Ohio — General Gahnett and 
HIS Dogs — ".•Vre You the Col-o-nel of this Post?" — Profanity in thb 
Army — High Price of Beans in Camp — A Little Game op " Draw." 



CONTENTS. IX 

PAGE 

CHAPTER XVII 172 

Haed on the Sutlek : Spibitualism Tried — A Specimen op Southern Po- 
etry — Sinqular — March to Nashville — General Steadman Challenged 
BY A Woman — Nigger Question — " Rebels Returning." 

CHAPTEE XVIII 181 

Going into Battle — Letter to the Secesh — General Garfield, Major- 
General Rosecrans's Chief of Staff — General Lew Wallace — The 
Siege of Cincinnati — Parson Brownlow — Colonel Charles Anderson. 

CHAPTER XIX 188 

An Episode of the War — Laughable Incident — Old Mrs. Wiggles on 
Picket Duty — General Manson — God Bless the Soldiers — Negro's 
Pedigree op Abraham Lincoln — A Middle Tennessee Preacher — A 
Laconic Speech. 

CHAPTER XX 194 

Union Men Scarce — How they are Dreaded — Incidents — The Wealthy Se- 
cessionists AND Poor Union Widows — The John Moro.ans of Rebellion 
— A Contraband's Explanation of the Mystery — Accident at the 
South Tunnel — Impudence of the Rebels — A Pathetic Appeal, etc. 

CHAPTER XXI 201 

A Friendly Visit for Corn into an Egyptian Country — Ohio Regiments 
— "Corn or Blood" — "Fanny Battles" — The Constitution Busted in 
Several Places — Edicts against Dinner-horns, by Colonel Brown- 
low's Cavalry — A Signal Station Burned — Two Rebel Aids Captured. 

CHAPTER XXII ...207 

Reward for a Master — Turning the Tables — Dan Boss and his Adven- 
ture — Major Pic Russell — A Visit to the Outposts with General 
Jeff C. Davis — Rebel Witticisms — Hisht Igo, ye Eccentric Quarter- 
master — Fling Out to the Breeze, Boys. 

CHAPTER XXIII 216 

Defense of the Conduct of the German Regiments at Hartsville — To 
THE Memory of Captain W. Y. Gholson — Colonel Toland vs. Contra- 
band Whisky. 

CHAPTER XXIV 222 

War and Romance — Colonel Fred Jones — Hanging in the Army — General 
A. J. Smith vs. Dirty Guns. 



X CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

CHAPTER XXV 232 

A Teip into the Enemy's Countey — The Rebeis twice dkiven back by 
General Steadman — Incidents or the Charge of the 1st Tennessee 
Cavalry, under Major Tracy — The 35th and 9th Ohio in the Fight — 
Colonel Moody and the 74th Ohio — Colonel Moody on the Battle- 
field. 

CHAPTER XXVI 240 

A Wedding in the Army — A Bill of Fare in Camp — Dishonest Female Reb 
— Private Cupp — To the 13th Ohio. 

CHAPTER XXVII 248 

The Oath — A Conservative Darkey's Opinion of Yankees — Visit to the 
Graves of Ohio and Indiana Boys — Trip from Murfeeesboro to Louis- 
ville — Nashville Convalescents — A Death in the Hospital — Henry 
LoviE Captured. 

CHAPTER XXVIII 256 

General Steadman superseded by General Schofield, of Missouri — Colo- 
nel Brownlow's Regiment — His Bravery — A Rebel Officer Killed 
BY A Woman — Discontent in East Tennessee — Picket Duty and its Dan- 
gers — A Gallant Deed and a Chivalrous Return. 

CHAPTER XXIX 263 

An Incident at Holly Springs, Miss. — The Raid by Van Dorn — Cincinnati 
Cotton-dealers in Trouble — Troubles of a Reporter. 

CHAPTER XXX 268 

A Reporter's Idea of BIules — Letter from Kentucky — Chaplain Gaddis 
turns Fireman— Gaddis and the Secesh Gbass-widow. 

CHAPTER XXXI 279 

A Visit to the 1st East Tennessee Cavalry — A Proposed Sermon — Its Inter- 
ruption — How ye Preacher is Bamboozled out of $15 and a Gold 
Watch — Cavalry on the Brain — Old Stonnickee Drummed out of Camp 
— Now AND Then. 

CHAPTER XXXII 289 

An Incident of the 5th O. V. I. — How to Avoid the Deaft — Keep the Sol- 
diers' Letters — New Use op Blood-hounds — Proposition to Hang the 
Dutch Soldiees — The Stolen Stabs. 

Debate between Slabsides and Garrotte 303 

Seemon feom "Harp of a Tuousand Strings,'' 308 



LIST OF ILLUSTEATIONS. 



PORTRAIT OF ALF BURNETT. 

SKEERED ! THAT AINT NO NAME FOR IT. 

RUNAWAY SCRAPE IN VIRGINIA. 

SPORTS IN CAMP. 

FAT VOLUNTEER. 

OLD STONNICKER DRUMMED OUT OF CAMP 

DEBATE BETWEEN SLABSIDES AND GARROTTE. 

SERMON— "HARP OF A THOUSAND STRINGS." 



ncid^nts of t\xt Wnx. 



CHAPTER I. 

Preparatory Remabks — Camp-Life — Incidents or the Battle of Perrtville — 
Briqadier-Genebal Lttle — Captain McDouoal, of the 3d Ohio — Colonel 
LooMis — After the Battle — Rebels Playing 'Possum — Skeebed I That 
AiNT NO Name foe it. 

In a two-years' connection with, the army, a man 
with the most ordinary capacity for garnering up the 
humorous stories of camp may find his repertoire over- 
flowing with the most versatile of incidents. A con- 
nection with the daily press is, however, of great 
service, especially as a letter-writer is expected to 
know all that occurs in camp — and more too ! 

The stories that I shall relate are no fictions, but 
veritable facts, to most of which I was myself an eye- 
witness. 

The hardships of camp-life have been so often de- 
picted by other pens that it will be unnecessary for 
me to bring them anew before the public. A few jolly 
spirits in a regiment frequently sway the crowd, and 
render the hours pleasant to the boys which otherwise 
would prove exceedingly wearisome ; and many a sur- 
geon has remarked, that it would amply remunerate 

(13) 



14 INCIDENTS OF THE WAE. 

Government to hire good, wholesome amusement for the 
benefit of the soldiers when not on active duty. Fre- 
quently, when visiting various hospitals, have I noticed 
the brightening eye of the patients as I have told them 
some laughable incident, or given an hour's amusement 
to the crowd of convalescents — a far preferable dose, 
they told me, to quinine. . A word of praise to the 
suffering hero is of great value. 

I remember, the day after the battle of Perryville, 
visiting the hospital of which Dr. Muscroft was sur- 
geon. I had assisted all day in bringing in the 
wounded from the field-hospital, in the rear of the 
battle-ground. The boys of the 10th and 3d Ohio 
were crowded into a little church, each pew answering 
for a private apartment for a wounded man. One of 
the surgeons in attendance requested me to assist in 
holding a patient while his leg was being amputated. 
This was my first trial, but the sight of the crowd of 
wounded had rendered my otherwise sensitive nerves 
adamant, and as the knife was hastily plunged, the 
circle-scribe and the saw put to its use, the limb 
off, scarce a groan escaped the noble fellow's lips. 
Another boy of the 10th had his entire right cheek 
cut off by a piece of a shell, lacerating his tongue 
in the most horrible manner : this wound had to be 
dressed, and again my assistance was required, and I 
could but notice the exhilarating effect a few words of 
praise that I bestowed upon his powers of endurance 
had. This was invariably the case with all those whom 
it was my painful duty to assist. The effect of a few 
words of praise seemed quite magical. 

Men frequently fight on, though severely wounded, 



CAPTAIN McDOUGAL — COLONEL LOOMIS, 15 

SO great is the excitement of battle, and I am cognizant 
of several instances of men fainting from loss of blood, 
who did not know they were wounded, until, several 
minutes afterward, they were brought to a realization 
of the fact through a peculiar dizzy, sickening feeling. 
Brigadier- General (then Colonel) Lytle, who commanded 
a brigade during that battle, it is said, by boys who were 
near him, after the severe wound he received, fought 
on several minutes. A field-officer, whose name I have 
forgotten, being shot from his horse, requested to be 
lifted back into the saddle, and died shortly afterward. 
Captain McDougal, of Newark, Ohio, commanding a 
company in the 3d Ohio, who, with sword upraised, 
and cheering on his noble boys, received a fatal shot, 
actually stepped some eight or ten paces before falling. 
Colonel Loomis, of the celebrated Loomis Battery, who 
did such service in that engagement, says he saw no 
dead about him ; yet there they lay, within a few feet 
of his battery. Loomis at one time sighted one of his 
favorite pieces, taking what he called a "fair, square, 
deliberate aim," and, sure enough, he knocked over the 
rebel gun, throwing it some feet in the air ; at the 
sight of which he was so elated that he fairly jumped 
with delight, and cheer after cheer rang out from the 
men of his command, and it was not until a whizzing 
shot from the remaining guns of the rebels' battery 
warned him that they were not yet conquered, that his 
boys were again put to work, and eventually quieted 
their noisy antagonists. At one time, during that fight, 
the rebels tried to charge up the hill from " Bottom's 
farm-house," but were repulsed. At that time the 10th 
and 3d Ohio, aided by the 15th Kentucky Eegiment, 



16 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

were holding the eminence ; the rebels were protected 
by a stone wall that skirted the entire meandering 
creek, giving them, at times, the advantage of an enfi- 
lading fire ; our boys were partly covered by what was 
known as "Bottom's barn." Many of our wounded had 
crawled into this barn for protection, but a rebel shell 
exploding directly among the hay set the barn on fire, 
and several of our poor wounded boys perished in the 
flames. 

Colonel Eeed, of Delaware, Ohio, was in command 
at Perryville, some time after the battle, and it is a 
disgraceful fact that the rebels left their dead unburied. 
At one spot, in a ravine, they had piled up thirty bodies 
in one heap, and thrown a lot of cornstalks over them ; 
and on the Springfield road, to the right, as you en- 
tered the town of Perryville, a regular line of skirm- 
ishers lay dead, each one about ten paces from the 
other; they had evidently been shot instantly dead, 
and had fallen in their tracks ; and there they laid for 
four days. One, a fine-looking man, with large, black, 
bushy whiskers, was within a few yards of the toll-gate 
keeper's house, (himself and family residing there,) who, 
apparently, was too lazy to dig a grave for the recep- 
tion of the rebel's body. 

As a matter of course, the first duty is to the 
wounded, but these people seemed to pay no attention 
to either dead or wounded. And it was not until a 
peremptory order from Colonel Reed was issued, that 
the rebel-sympathizing citizens condescended to go out 
and bury their Confederate friends; and this was ac- 
complished by digging a deep hole beside the corpse, 
and the diggers, taking a couple of fence-rails, would 



REBELS PLAYING 'POSSUM. 17 

pry tlie body over and let it fall to the Lottom : tlius 
these poor, deluded wretches found a receptacle in 
mother Earth. 

Accompanied by Mr. A. Seward, the special corre- 
spondent of the Philadelphia Inquirer, the day after the 
fight I visited an improvised hospital in the woods in 
the rear of the battle-ground. There we found some 
twenty Secesh, who had strayed from their command, 
and were playing sick and wounded to anybody who 
came along. They had guards out watching, and, as 
I suspected they were playing sharp, I bethought me 
of trying "diamond cut diamond;" so I dismounted, 
and having on a Kentucky-jeans coat, I ventured a 
" How-DE, Boys ? " 

They eyed us pretty severely, and ventured the 
remark that they needed food, and would like some 
coffee or sugar for the wounded boys. I went inside 
the log-house, telling them I would send some down; 
that we were farming close by there; " Dry-fork" was 
the place ; we would send them bread. After we had 
gained their confidence, they wanted to know how they 
could get out of the State without being captured ; 
said they had not been taken yet, although several of 
the Yanks had been there ; but the " d — d fools " 
thought they were already paroled. 

We told them that as soon as they got well we would 
pilot them safely out. They said they had already been 
promised citizens' clothing by Mrs. Thompson and some 
other rebel ladies. They then openly confessed that 
there was only one of them wounded, and that they 
had used his bloody rags for arm-bandages and head- 
bandages only for the brief period when they were 
2 



18 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

visited by suspicious-looking persons; but, as we were 
all right, they had no hesitancy in telling us they were 
part of Hardee's corps, and were left there by accident 
when the rebel forces marched. 

By a strange accident they were all taken prisoners 
that afternoon by a dozen Federal prowlers, who kindly 
took them in out of the wet. 

Skeered! That aint no Name for It. 

About a mile and a half to the rear of the field of 
battle there stands, in a large, open field, a solitary 
log-house containing two rooms. The house is sur- 
rounded by a fence inclosing a small patch of ground. 
The chimney had been partly torn away by a cannon- 
ball. A shell had struck the roof of the building, rip- 
ping open quite a gutter in the rafters. A dead horse 
lay in the little yard directly in front of the house, 
actually blocking up the doorway, while shot and shell 
were scattered in every direction about the field in 
front and rear of this solitary homestead. I dis- 
mounted, determined to see who or what was in the 
house — 

" Darkness there, and nothing more." 

A board had been taken from the floor, exhibiting a 
large hole between two solid beams or logs. An 
empty bedstead, a wooden cupboard, and three chairs 
were all the furniture the house contained. Hurrying 
across the field, we caught up with a long, lank, lean 
woman. She had two children with her: a little boy 
about nine, and a girl about four years of age. The 
woman had a table upon her head. The table, turned 



skeered! that aint no name for it. 19 

upside down, contained a lot of bedding. She had a 
bucket full of crockery-ware in one hand, and was hold- 
ing on to the table with the other. The children were 
loaded down with household furniture of great con- 
venience. As it was growing dark, I inquired the 
nearest road to Perryville. The woman immediately 
unloaded her head, and pointing the direction, set one 
leg on the table, and yelled to the boy — 

''Whoray up, Jeems; you are so slow!" 

" How far is it, madam ? " 

"0, about a mile and a half. It aint more nor that, 
no how." 

"Who lived in that house?" said I, pointing to the 
log-cabin I had just left. 

"I did." 

" Were you there during the fight ? " 

''Guess I was," 

"Where was'your husbp.nd?" 

"He wor dead." 

"Was he killed in the battle? " 

"No; he died with the measles." 

"Why didn't you leave when you found there was 
going to be a fight? " 

"I did start for to go, but I seed the Yankees comin' 
thick, and I hurried back t'other way; and jest as I 
e'enamost got to the brush yonder, I seed the ' Confeds ' 
jest a swarmin' out of the woods. So, seeing I was 
between two fires, I rund back to the house." 

"Wasn't you afraid you'd be killed?" 

" Guess I was." 

"What did you do when they commenced firing?" 



20 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

"I cut a hole in the floor with the ax, and hid 

between the jists." 

''Did they fight long upon your ground?" 

"It aeemed to me like it wor two weeks." 

"You must have been pretty well scared; were you 

not?" 

"Humph! skeeredl Lor bless you, sheered/ That 

aint no name for it/" 

Camp Fun in a Burlesque Letter to a Friend. 

The other morning I was standing by Billy Briggs, 
in our tent. 

" Hand me them scabbards, Jimmy," said he. 

" Scabbards ! " said I, looking round. 

" Yes ; boots, I mean. I wonder if these boots were 
any relation to that beef we ate yesterday. If they 
will only prove as tough, they '11 last me a long time. 
I say, Cradle! " he called out, "where are you?" 

Cradle was our contraband, with a foot of extraor- 
dinary length, and heel to match. 

"What do you call him Cradle for?" I inquired. 

" What would you call him ? If he aint a cradle, 
what's he got rockers on for?" 

Cradle made his appearance, with a pair of perforated 
stockings. 

"It's no use," said Billy, looking at them. "Them 
stockings will do to put on a sore throat, but won't do 
for feet. It is humiliating for a man like me to be 
without stockings. A man may be bald-headed, and 
it's genteel; but to be barefooted, it's ruination. The 
legs are good, too," he added, thoughtfully, "but the 



BUKLESQUE LETTER TO A FEIEND. 21 

feet are gone. There is something about the heels of 
stockings and the elbows of stove-pipes, in this world, 
that is all wrong, Jimmy." 

A supply of stockings had come that day, and were 
just being given out. A pair of very large ones fell 
to Billy's lot. Billy held them up before him. 

"Jimmy," said he, "these are pretty bags to give a 
little fellow like me. Them stockings was knit for the 
President, or a young gorilla, certain ! " and he was 
about to bestow them upon Cradle, when a soldier, in 
the opposite predicament, made an exchange. " Them 
stockings made me think of the prisoner I scared so 
the other day," said Billy. 

"How's that?" said I. 

" He saw a big pair of red leggings, with feet, hang- 
ing up before our tent. He never said a word, till he 
saw the leggings, and then he asked me what they 
were for. ' Them ! ' said I, ' them 's General Banks's 
stockings.' He looked scared. 'He's a big man, is 
General Banks,' said I, ' but then he ought to be, the 
way he lives.' 'How?' said he. 'Why,' said I, 'his 
regular diet is bricks buttered with mortar.' " 

The next day Billy got a present of a pair of stock- 
ings from a lady; a nice, soft pair, with his initials, in 
red silk, upon them. He was very happy. " Jimmy," 
said he, "just look at 'em," and he smoothed them down 
with his hand — "marked with my initials, too; 'B,' for 
my Christian name, and 'W for my heathen name. 
How kind! They came just in the right time, too; 
I've got such a sore heel." 

Orders came to "fall in." Billy was so "overjoyed 
with his new stockings he did n't keep the line well. 



22 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

"Steady, tliere ! " growled the sergeant; "keep your 
place, and do n't be moving round like the Boston post- 
office ! " 

We were soon put upon the double-quick. After 
a few minutes, Billy gave a groan. 

"What is it, Billy?" said I. 

" It 's all up with 'em," said he. , 

I didn't know what he meant, but his face showed 
something bad had happened. When we broke ranks 
and got to the tent, he looked the picture of despair — 
shoes in hand, and his heels shining through his stock- 
ings like two crockery door-knobs. 

"Them new stockings of yoars is breech-loading, aint 
they, Billy?" said an unfeeling volunteer. 

" Better get your name on both ends, so that you 
can keep 'em together," said another, 

'^Shoddy stockings," said a third. 

Billy was silent. I saw his heart was breaking, and 
I said nothing. We held a council on them, and Billy, 
not feeling strong-hearted enough for the task, gave 
them to Cradle to sew up the small holes. 

I saw him again before supper; he came to me look- 
ing worse than ever, the stockings in his hand. 

" Jimmy," said he, " you know I gave them to Cra- 
dle, and told him to sew up the small holes; and what 
do you think he has done ? He 's gone and sewed up 
the heads." 

" It 's a hard case, Billy; in such cases, tears are al- 
most justifiable." 



GENEEAL NELSON. 23 



CHAPTER II. 

General Nelson — The Genebal and the Pie-Women — The Watchful Sentinel 
OP the 2d Kentucky — The Wagon-Master of the 17th Indiana — Death op 
General Nelson — His Funeral — Colonel Nick Anderson's Opinion op 

NeL£0N. 

A GREAT many stories have been told about General 
Nelson, with whom the writer was upon the most inti- 
mate terms. That Nelson was a noble, warm-hearted, 
companionable man, those even most opposed to his 
rough manner, at times, will readily admit. 

Nelson was strongly attached to the 6th Ohio. From 
his very first acquaintance he said he fell in love with 
it, and his feeling was reciprocated, for the 6th was as 
ardently devoted to him. 

At Camp Wickliffe the General was very much an- 
noyed by women coming into his camp, and he had 
given strict orders that none should be admitted on 
the following Sunday, as he intended reviewing the 
division that day. His chagrin and rage can only be 
imagined by those who knew him, when, upon this 
veritable occasion, he saw at least thirty women huddled 
together, on mares, mules, jacks, jennies, and horses. 
The General rode hastily to Lieutenant Southgate, ex- 
claiming — 

"Captain Southgate, I thought I ordered that no 



24 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

more of those d — d women should come into my camp. 
What are they doing here?" 

" I promulgated your order, General," replied Cap- 
tain Southgate. 

" Well, by , what are they here for ? " and rid- 
ing up to the bevy of women in lathed and split bon- 
nets, he inquired, in a ferocious manner, " What in 
are all you women doing here ? " 

Now, the party was pretty well frightened, but there 
was one with more daring than the rest, who sidled 
up to the General, and, with- what was intended to be 
■a smile, (but the General said he never saw a more 
" sardonic grin " in his life,) she answered for the 
party, and said : 

" /Sellin pies, Ginral." 

" Selling pies, eh ! Selling pies, eh ! Let me see 
'em ; let me see 'em, quick ! " 

The woman untied one end of a bolster-slip, and 
thrust her arm down the sack, and brought forth a 
specimen of the article, which Nelson seized, and vainly 
endeavored to break. It was like leather. The General 
gave it a sudden twist and broke it in two, when out 
dropped three or four pieces of dried ^apple. 

" By , madam, you call them pies, do you ? Pies, 

eh ! Those things are just what are giving all Tny 
hoys the colic! Get out of this camp every one of 
you! Clear yourselves ! " 

The camp was thus cleared of pie-venders, who es- 
caped on the double-quick. 

General Nelson was a strict disciplinarian, and fre- 
quently tested his pickets by a personal visit. Upon 
one occasion he rode through a drenchinc; rain to the 



A WATCHFUL SENTINEL. 25 

outposts; it was a dark niglit, and mud and water 
were knee-deep in some parts of tlie road. A portion 
of the 2d Kentucky was on guard, and as the General 
rode up he met the stern " Halt " of the sentinel, and 
the usual " Who comes there ? " 

" General Nelson," was the reply. 

" Dismount, General Nelson, and give the counter- 
sign," was the sentinel's command. 

" Do you know who you are talking to, sir? I tell 
you I am your General, and you have the impudence 
to order me to dismount, you scoundrel!" 

'' Dismount, and give the countersign, or I will fire 
upon you," was the stern rejoinder. 

And Nelson did dismount, and gave the countersign, 
and at the same time inquired the sentinel's name, and 
to what regiment he belonged. The following day 
the man was sent for, to appear forthwith at head- 
quarters. The soldier went with great trepidation, 
anticipating severe treatment from the General for the 
previous night's conduct. Imagine his surprise when 
the General invited him in, complimented him highly, 
in the presence of his oflEicers, and requested, if- at any 
time he required any service from him, to just mention 
that he was the soldier of the 2d Kentucky who had 
made him dismount in mud and rain, and give the 
countersign. 

On another occasion he was riding along the road, and 
was accosted by two waggish members of the 6th Ohio. 

''Hallo! mister," said one of the boys, "won't you 
take a drink ? " 

" Where are you soldiers going to ? " inquired the 
General. 

3 



26 INCIDENTS OF THE WAE. 

" 0, just over here a little bit." 

"What regiment do you belong to?" 

"Sixth Ohio." 

" Well, get back to your camp, quick ! " 

The boys, although they knew him well, took advant- 
age of the fact that the General displayed no insignia 
of his rank, and replied : 

" They guessed they'd go down the road a bit, first." 

" Come back ! come back ! " shouted the General. 
" How dare you disobey me ? Do you know who I am, 
you scoundrels ? " 

" No, I do n't," said one of the boys ; and then, look- 
ing impudently and inquiringly into his face, said : 
" Why! ain't you the wagon-master of the 17th Indi- 
ana f " 

Nelson thought activity the best cure for " ennui," 
and consequently kept his men busy. One day, call- 
ing his officers together, he ordered them to prepare 
immediately for a regular, old-fashioned day's work; 
" for," said he, " there has been so little work done 
here since the rain set in, that I fear drilling has fallen 
in the market; but if we succeed in keeping up that 
article, I am sure cotton must come down," 

He was exceedingly bitter in his denunciations of the 
London Times and rebel British sympathizers, remark- 
ing to me, one evening, that he was exceedingly anxious 
this war should speedily end, " for," said he, " I would 
like nothing better than to see our people once more 
united as a nation; and then I want fifty thousand 
men at my command, so that I could march them to 
Canada, and go through those provinces like a dose of 
croton," 



DEATH OF GENERAL NELSON. 27 

I was present at the Gait House, in Louisville, when 
General Nelson was shot by General Davis, and imme- 
diately telegraphed the sad news to the daily press of 
Cincinnati. The following was my dispatch : 

General Nelson Shot by General Davis. 

LouisA'iLLE, September 29. 
Eds. Times : I just witnessed General Jeff C. Davis shoot Gen- 
eral Nelson. It occurred in the Gait House, in the entry leading 
from the ofi&ce. The wound is thought to be mortal. Alf. 

Later. — General Nelson Dead. 

Louisville, September 29, 10 A. M. 
General Nelson is dead. I will telegraph particulars as soon as 
possible. Alf. 

THIED DISPATCH. 

Particulars of the Affair. 

Louisville, September 29, 11 A. M. 

Eds. Times : Jefferson C. Davis, of Indiana, went into the Gait 
Honse, at half-past eight o'clock this morning. He met General 
Nelson, and referred to the treatment he had received at his hands 
in ordering him to Cincinnati. Nelson cursed him, and struck 
Davis in the face several times. Nelson then retired a few paces, 
Davis borrowing a pistol from a friend, who, handing it to him, 
remarked, "It is a Tranter trigger — be careful." 

I had just that moment been in conversation with the General. 

Alf. 

The particulars were afterward given in a letter, 
which is here inserted: 

Louisville, September 29, 1862. 

The greatest excitement of the day has been in dis- 
cussing the death of General Nelson, and the causes 
which led to the terrible denouevient . 



28 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

Sauntering out in searcli of an " item" — my custom 
always in the morning — I happened to be in the Gralt 
House just as the altercation between General Nelson 
and General JefF C. Davis was reaching its climax, and 
of which I telegraphed you within ten minutes after its 
occurrence. From what I learn, from parties who saw 
the commencement, it would seem that General Davis 
felt himself grossly insulted by Nelson's overbearing 
manner at their former meeting ; and seeing him stand- 
ing talking to Governor Morton, Davis advanced and 
demanded an explanation, upon which Nelson turned 
and cursed him, calling him an infamous puppy, and 
using other violent language unfit for publication. 
Upon pressing his demand for an explanation. Nelson, 
who was an immensely powerful and large man, took 
the back of his hand and deliberately slapped General 
Davis's face. Just at this juncture I entered the office. 
The people congregated there were giving Nelson a 
wide berth. Eecognizing the General, I said " Good 
morning, General," (at this time I was not aware of 
what had passed). His reply to me was: "Did you 
hear that d — d insolent scoundrel insult me, sir? I 
suppose he don't know me, sir. I'll teach him a les- 
son, sir." During this time he was retiring slowly 
toward the door leading to the ladies' sitting-room. At 
this moment I heard General Davis ask for a weapon, 
first of a gentleman who was standing near him, and 
then meeting Captain Gibson, who was just about to 
enter the dining-room, he asked him if he had a pistol ? 
Captain Gibson replied, "I always carry the article;" 
and handed one to him, remarking, as Davis walked 
toward Nelson, "It is a Tranter trigger." 



DEATH OF GENERAL NELSON. 29 

Nelson, by this time, reached the hall, and was evi- 
dently getting out of the way, to avoid further diffi- 
culty. 

Davis's face was livid, and such a look of mingled 
indignation, mortification, and determination I never 
before beheld. His hand was slowly raised ; and, as 
Nelson advanced, Davis uttered the one word, " Halt !" 
and fired. Nelson, with the bullet in his breast, com- 
pleted the journey up the entire stairs, and then fell. 
As he reached the top, John Allen Crittenden met him 
and said, " Are you hurt. General ?" He replied, " Yes, 
I am, mortally." " Can I do any thing for you?" con- 
tinued Crittenden. " Yes ; send for a surgeon and a 
priest, quick." 

A rush was made by the crowd toward the place as 
soon as he was shot. No effort, as far as I can learn, 
has been made to arrest General Davis. 

A few minutes after the occurrence I was introduced 
to the Aid of Governor Morton, who told me he saw it 
all, from the very commencement, and that, had not Davis 
acted as he did, after the gross provocation he received, 
Davis would have deserved to have been shot himself. 

It is a great pity so brave a man should have had 
so little control over his temper. Although very severe 
in his discipline and rough in his language, the boys 
of his division were devotedly attached to him, because 
he was a fighting man. The 6th Ohio, especially, were 
his ardent admirers. He was hated here, bitterly hated, 
by all Secessionists ; this of itself should have endeared 
him to Union men. 

The Louisville Journal, this afternoon, in speaking 
of the afi"air, says : 



30 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

" Greneral Nelson, from tlie first, tliouglit the wound 
was a mortal one, and expressed a desire to have the 
Rev. Mr. Talbott, of Calvary Church, summoned. 
This gentleman resides about three miles below the 
city, ^Dut was unable to get home on Sunday after 
service, and passed the night at the Gait House. He 
immediately obeyed the summons, as he was well ac- 
quainted with the General. The reverend gentleman 
informs us that the dying man spoke no word concern- 
ing the difficulty, and made no allusion to his temporal 
affairs, but was exceedingly solicitous as to the salva- 
tion of his soul, and desired Mr. Talbott to perform 
the rite of baptism, and receive him into the bosom of 
the Church. 

" After five minutes' conversation, to ascertain his 
state of preparedness, the clergyman assented to his 
wish, and the solemn ordinance was administered with 
unusual impressiveness, in the presence of Dr. Murray, 
the medical director, Major-General Crittenden, and a 
few other personal friends. When the service concluded, 
he was calm, and sank into his last sleep quietly, with 
no apparent physical pain, but with some mental suf- 
fering. The last audible words that he uttered were 
a prayer for the forgiveness of his sins. That appeal 
was made to Almighty God. Let, then, his fellow-mor- 
tals be proud of his many virtues, his lofty patriotism, 
and undaunted courage, while they judge leniently of 
those faults, which, had they been curbed, might have 
been trained into virtues. Let it not be said of our 
friend — 

" ' The evil that men do lives after them, 
The good is oft interred with their bones.' " 



funeral of general nelson. 31 

The Funeral. 

The faneral of General Nelson took place yesterday 
afternoon. The corpse of the General was incased in 
a most elegant rosewood coffin, mounted with silver. 
The American flag, that he had so nobly fought under 
at Shiloh, was wrapped about it ; his sword, drawn for 
the last time by that once brave hand, lay upon the 
flag. Bouquets were strewed upon the coffin. 

Major-General Granger, Major-General McCook, and 
Major-General Crittenden, and Brigadier-General Jack- 
son, assisted by other officers, conveyed the remains 
from the hearse to the church-door, and down the aisle. 
As they entered the building, Dr. Craig commenced 
reading the burial service for the dead. As soon as 
they reached the pulpit, and set down the corpse, the 
choir chanted a requiem in the most impressive man- 
ner. Rev. Dr. Craig then read the 15th chapter of 
the First Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians, 2Jst to 
the 29th verses : 

"For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrec- 
tion of the dead. 

"For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made 
alive." 

After the reading of this, the Rev. Mr. Talbott, he 
whom General Nelson had sent for immediately upon 
being shot, and who had administered to his spiritual 
welfare, and received him into the Church, delivered 
one of the most beautiful and eulogistic discourses I 
ever heard. 

He said that the General had been, in private life, 
one of the most congenial and warm-hearted of men ; 



32 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

his hand ever open to the needy. He had known him 
welL 

The hist half-hour of his life was devoted entirely to 
the salvation of his soul ; he did not refer to worldly 
matters. Mr. Talbott told him he must forgive all 
whom he thought had injured him. His reply was, 
" ! I do, I do forgive — I do forgive. Let me," said 
Nelson, " t»e baptized quick, for I feel I am fast going." 

Mr. T. then administered to him the sacred rite, 
and in a few minutes, conscious to the last, smiling 
and serene, he passed to '' that bourne from which no 
traveler returns." 

"A more contrite heart and thorough Christian 
resignation," said the divine, " I never saw." 

The discourse over, the body was conveyed again to 
the hearse. 

Lieutenant-Colonel Anderson, of the 6th Ohio, had 
command of the escort, which consisted of two com- 
panies of the 2d Ohio, and two companies of the 6th, 
all being from his old and tried division. No rela- 
tives, I believe, were here, except Captain Davis, a fos- 
ter-brother, belonging to the 2d Minnesota Regiment. 

General Nelson's gray horse was led immediately 
behind the hearse, the General's boots reversed and 
fastened in the stirrups. An artillery company and 
cavalry squadron completed the cortege, which moved 
slowly down Second Street to the beat of the muffled 
drum. 

He has gor;e to his long hqme ! Though rash and 
impetuous at times, we must not forget our country 
has lost a noble defender, a man of true courage — one 
who was looked up to by his division. 



COLONEL nice: anderson's letter. 33 

To-day he was to join them ; and as I went through 
the old Fourth Division, last Sunday, the boys were 
all in a jubilee, because Nelson was going to be with 
them, and they reinarked, "If he is along, he '11 take 
us where we 'II have fighting ! " 

As I have before told you, everywhere Secessionists 
are rejoicing at his death, and Kentucky ones espe- 
cially. The Union men of Kentucky have lost a noble 
defender. 

Yesterday General Eousseau's division of ten thou- 
sand men was reviewed. They are a splendid body of 
men. 

There will be no examination of Jeff 0. Davis before 
the civil authorities, but the affair is to be investigated 
by a court-martial. 

A singular incident is related of General Nelson. 
It is said that the Kev. Dr. Talbott, who resides a few 
miles from the city, wished to return home on Sunday 
night last. Nelson refused him the pass. On Monday 
morning it was this reverend gentleman who was sent 
for by Nelson, and received Nelson into the Church, 
and who performed the funeral services to-day. 

Yours, Alf. 

The gallant Colonel Nick Anderson, who so bravely 
led the 6th Ohio at Shiloh, and more recently at Mur- 
freesboro, in speaking of Nelson, says: 

"And what is said will be assented to by all who 
shared his familiar moments, that, outside of his mili- 
tary duties, he was a refined gentleman. Whatever 
may be said of his severe dealing with his subordi- 
nates, his violent manner when reprimanding them, 



V 

34 INCIDENTS OF THE WAE. 

every one who knew him will bear witness that it was 
only to exact that iron discipline which makes an army 
irresistible. His naval education, in which discipline 
is so mercilessly enforced, will explain clearly his in- 
tensity of manner when preparing his forces for the 
terrible trials of the march or the battle-field. How- 
ever much he was disliked by subordinate and inefiicient 
officers, he was beloved by his men, the private soldiers. 

" How carefully he looked after all their wants, their 
clothing, their food — in short, whatever they needed to 
make them strong and brave ! for it was a maxim with 
him, that, unless a man's back was kept warm and his 
stomach well supplied, he ccndd not be relied upon as a 
soldier. All who know Buell's army will bear witness 
to the splendid condition of Nelson's division. 

''General Nelson earned his rank as major-general 
by no mysterious influences at head-quarters, but by 
splendid achievements on the battle-field. It has been 
said that his division was the first to enter Nashville; 
so it was the first in Corinth ; but these are the poorest 
of his titles to distinction. It was his success in East- 
ern Kentucky, in destroying the army of General 
Marshall ; and, greatest of all, his arrival, by forced 
marches, at Pittslnirg Landing, early enough on Sunday 
afternoon, the 9th of April, to stop the victorious prog- 
ress of General Beauregard, that placed him among 
his country's benefactors and heroes, and which will 
'gild his sepulcher, and embalm his name.' 

"But for Nelson, Grant's army might have been 
destroyed. His forced march, wading deep streams, 
brought him to the field just in time. An hour later, 
and all might have been lost." 



COLONEL NICK ANDERSON'S LETTER. 35 

An officer of his division lias recounted to me some 
thrilling incidents of that memorable conflict. 

" It was nearly sunset when Nelson, at the head of 
his troops, landed on the west bank of the river, in 
the midst of the conflict. The landing and shore of 
the river, up and down, were covered by five thousand 
of our beaten and demoralized soldiers, whom no 
appeals or efforts could rally. Nelson, with difficulty, 
forced his way through the crowd, shaming them for 
their cowardice as he passed, and riding upon a knoll 
overlooking his disembarking men, cried out, in sten- 
torian tones: 'Colonel A., have you your regiment 
formed ? ' ' In a moment, General,' was the reply. 
'Be quick; time is precious; moments are golden.' 'I 
am ready now. General.' 'Forward — march!' was his 
command ; and the gallant 6th Ohio was led quickly to 
the field. 

" That night Nelson asked Captain Gwynne, of the 
'Tyler,' to send him a bottle of wine and a box of 
cigars; 'for to-morrow I will show you a man-of-war 
fight.' 

" During the night Buell came up and crossed the 
river, and by daylight next morning our forces attacked 
Beauregard, and then was fought the desperate battle 
of Shiloh. Up to twelve M. we had gained no decisive 
advantage ; in fact, the desperate courage of the enemy 
had caused us to fall back. 'General Buell," said my 
informant, 'now came to the front, and held a hasty 
consultation with his Generals. They decided to charge 
the rebels, and drive them back. Nelson rode rapidly 
to the head of his column, his gigantic figure conspicuous 
to the enemy in front, and in a voice that rang like a 



36 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

trumpet over the clangor of battle, he called for four of 
his finest regiments in succession — the 24th Ohio, 36th 
Indiana, 17th Kentucky, and 6th Ohio. 'Trail arms; 
forward; double-quick — march;' and away, with thun- 
dering cheers, went those gallant boys. The bravo 
Captain (now Brigadier-General) Terrell, who alone was 
left untouched of all his battery, mounted his horse, 
and, with wild huzzas, rode, with Nelson, upon the foe. 

"It was the decisive moment; it was like Welling- 
ton's ' Up, guards, and at them ! ' The enemy broke, 
and their retreat commenced. That was the happiest 
moment of my life when Nelson called my regiment to 
make that grand charge, 

"Let the country mourn the sad fate of General 
Nelson. He was a loyal Kentuckian; fought gallantly 
the battles of his Government ; earned all his distinction 
by gallant deeds. All his faults were those of a com- 
mander anxious to secure the highest efficiency of his 
troops by the most rigid discipline of his officers, and in 
this severe duty he has, at last, lost his life, 

"His death, after all, was beautiful. He told Colonel 
Moody, in Nashville, that, though he swore much, yet 
he never went to bed without saying his prayers; and 
now, at last, we find him on his death-bed, not crimin- 
ating or explaining, but seeking the consolations of 
religion. Hequiescat in pace ! " 



DESCRIPTION OF A BATTLE. 37 



CHAPTER III. 

DEScniPTio>f OF A Battle — The 2d Ohio (Colonel Harris) at Pereyville^ 
Major-general McCook's Report — M-ajor-Genebal Rousseau's Report — 
Sketch of Major-General A. McD. McCook. 

" Then shook the hills with thunder riven, 
Then rushed the steeds to battle driven. 
And, louder than the bolts of heaven. 
Far flashed the red artillery I " 

Many of you have, no doubt, looked upon the field 
of battle where contending hosts have met in deadly 
strife. But there are those whose eyes have never 
gazed upon so sad a sight; and to such I may be 
enabled to present a picture that will at best give you 
but a faint idea of the terrible reality of a fiercely- 
contested field. 

Imagine thousands upon thousands on either side, 
spreading over a vast expanse of ground, each armed 
with all the terrible machinery of modern warfare, and 
striving to gain the advantage of their opponents by 
some particular movement, studied long by those learned 
in the art of war. 

Then comes the clang of battle ; steel meets steel, 
drinking the blood of contending foes. The sabers 
flash and glitter in the sunlight, descending with ter- 
rj' ^3 force upon devoted heads, which were once pil- 



38 INCIDENTS OF THE "WAR. 

lowed on the bosoms of fond and devoted mothers. 
Jove's dread counterfeit is heard on every hand; the 
balls and shells go whistling and screaming by, the 
most terrible music to ears not properly attuned to 
the melody of war. Thousands sink upon the ground 
overpowered, to be trodden under foot of the flying 
steed, or their bones to be left whitening the incarna- 
dined field. Blows fall thick and heavy on every 
hand. The cries of the wounded and the orders of the 
commanders mingle together ; and, to the uninitiated, 
all appears "confusion worse confounded." 

But there is a method in all this seeming madness ; 
and that which appears confusion is the result of well- 
laid plans. But as there is " many a slip 'twixt the 
cup and the lip," so there are slips in the actions of the 
best regulated armies. Gunpowder, shot, shell, and 
steel are not always to be implicitly relied upon : even 
they sometimes fail in carrying out what were con- 
ceded to be designs infallible; so true it is that "man 
proposes, hut God disposes." 

It has been my province to witness battles wherein 
Western men were the heroes ; and that Western men 
will fight, has been pretty well authenticated during 
the present war. I have noticed the brave conduct 
of the gallant troops, the fighting boys of the various 
regiments of the West, and have never known them to 
falter in the hour of danger. They left their homes 
totally uneducated in warfare ; they are now veterans — 
each a hero. 

The conduct of the 2d Ohio at Perryville is spoken 
of thus by a correspondent : 

" The brigade of Len Harris was in the center, and 



BATTLE OF PEREYVILLE. 39 

met the sliock simultaneously with the left and right. 
The whole brigade was in the open fields, with the 
rebels in the woods before them. Long and gallantly 
did they sustain their exposed positions. An Illinois 
regiment, of Terrell's brigade, flying from the field, 
ran through this brigade, with terrible cries of defeat 
and disaster ; but the gallant boys of the 2d Ohio and 
38th Indiana only laughed at them, as, lying down, 
they were literally run over by the panic-stricken Illi- 
noisans. Hardly had they disappeared in the woods 
in Harris's rear when the rebels appeared in the woods 
in his front. At the same time E,ousseau came gal- 
loping along the line, and they received him with cheers, 
and the rebels with a terrible fire. Terrible was the 
shock on this part of the line, but gallant was the 
resistance. Up the hill came the rebels, and made as 
gallant a charge as ever was met by brave men. But, 
! so terrible and bloody was the repulse I Along the 
line of the 2d Ohio and 38th Indiana and Captain 
Harris's battery, I saw a simultaneous cloud of smoke 
arise. One moment I waited. The cloud arose, and 
revealed the broken column of rebels flying from the 
field, but, in the distance, a second rapidly advancing. 
The shout that arose from our men drowned the roar 
of cannon, and sent dismay into the retreating, broken 
column." 

In Major-General McCook's report of that battle, he 
says it was " the bloodiest battle in inodern times for 
the number of troops engaged on our side," and '' the 
battle was principally fought by Roussemts division; 
and if there are, or ever were, better soldiers than the 
old troops engaged, I have neither seen nor read of 



.40 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

them." Speaking of the new troops, General McCook 
points out those under the command of Colonel Harris, 
saying : " For instance, in the Ninth Brigade, where 
the 2d and 33d Ohio, 68th Indiana, and 10th Wiscon- 
sin fought so well, I was proud to see the 94th and 
98th Ohio vie with their brethren in deeds of heroism." 
The 94th and 98th were new troops, and the example 
of the old soldiers in Colonel Harris's brigade, and the 
distinguished courage and good judgment of the Col- 
onel, gave them confidence, and they stood in the storm 
like veterans. 

General Rousseau's Eeport of the Battle, 

. . . " I then returned to Harris's brigade, hear- 
ing that the enemy was close upon him, and found that 
the 33d Ohio had been ordered further to the front 
by General McCook, and was then engaged with the 
enemy, and needed support. General McCook, in per- 
son, ordered the 2d Ohio to its support, and sent direc- 
tions to me to order up the 24th Illinois also. Captain 
Mauf commanding. I led the 24th Illinois, in line of 
battle, immediately forward, and it was promptly de- 
ployed as skirmishers by its commander, and went gal- 
lantly into action, on the left of the 33d Ohio. The 2d 
Ohio, moving up to support the 33d Ohio, was engaged 
before it arrived on the ground where the 33d was 
fio-htino;. The 38th Indiana, Colonel B. F. Scribner 
commanding, then went gallantly into action, on the 
right of the 2d Ohio. Then followed in support the 
94th Ohio, Colonel Frizell. I wish here to say that 
this regiment, although new, and but few weeks in the 



SKETCH OF GENEEAL McCOOK. 41 

service, behaved most gallantly,- under the steady lead 
of its brave Colonel Frizell. Colonel Harris's whole 
brigade — Simonson's battery on its right — was repeat- 
edly assailed by overwhelming numbers, but gallantly 
held its position. The 38th Indiana and 2d Ohio, after 
exhausting their ammunition and that taken from the 
boxes of the dead and wounded on the field, still held, 
their position, as did also, I believe, the 10th Wiscon- 
sin and 33d. Ohio. For this gallant conduct these brave 
men are entitled to the gratitude of the country, and I 
thank them here, as I did on the field of battle. ^ . . 

" I had an opportunity of seeing and knowing the 
conduct of Colonel Starkweather, of the Twenty-eighth 
Brigade, Colonel Harris, of the Ninth Brigade, and of 
the officers and men under their command, and I can 
not speak too highly of 4heir bravery and gallantry on 
that occasion. They did, cheerfully and with alacrity, 
all that brave men could do. . . . 

" I herewith transmit the reports of Colonels Stark- 
weather, Harris, and Pope, and also a list of casualties 
in my division, amounting, in all, to 1,950 killed and 
wounded. My division was about 7,000 strong when 
it went into the action. We fought the divisions of 
Anderson, Cheatham, and Buckner. 

" I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
"LovELL H. Rousseau." 

It will not be amiss here to give a brief outline of 
the early history, coming down to a recent date, of 
the renowned hero, Major-General A. McD. McCoOK, 
United States Volunteers. 

He was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, April 
4 



42 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

22, 1831. At the age of sixteen he entered the Mili- 
tary Academy at West Point, as a cadet. He gradu- 
ated in July, 1852, and was commissioned Brevet Sec- 
ond Lieutenant, in the 3d Eegiment United States 
Infantry. After being assigned to duty for a few 
months, at Newport Barracks, Ky., he was ordered, in 
April, 1853, to join his regiment, then serving in the 
Territory of New Mexico. Here he remained nearly 
five years, constantly on active duty in the field, and 
participating in all the Indian campaigns on that wild 
and remote frontier. His long services and good con- 
duct were mentioned in General Orders by Lieutenant- 
General Winfield Scott. In January, 1858, he was 
ordered from New Mexico to West Point, and assigned 
to duty in the Military Academy, as instructor in 
Tactics and the Art of War. On the breaking out of 
the rebellion he was relieved from duty there, and 
ordered, in April, 1861, to Columbus, Ohio, to muster 
in volunteers. Before his arrival there he was elected 
Colonel of the 1st Ohio Volunteers, a three-months 
regiment, already on its way to the seat of war in 
Virginia; and hastening to join the command, to which 
he was elected without his knowledge or solicitation, 
soon had an opportunity of exhibiting those admirable 
qualities as a field-ofiicer for which he has since be- 
come so justly distinguished. His coolness in the 
unfortunate affair at Vienna, and his consummate mili- 
tary skill in the management of his command at Bull 
Run, were universally commended. At the close of 
that eventful conflict he marched his regiment back to 
Centerville in the same good order in which it had 
left there, an honorable exception to the wide-spread 



SKETCH OP GENERAL ^rCOOK:. 43 

confusion and disorder that prevailed elsewhere among 
the National forces. 

When the three-months troops were mustered out 
of the service he received permission to raise the 1st 
Kegiment Ohio Volunteers, a three-years regiment ; 
but on the 3d of September, 1861, and before his com- 
mand was ready to take the field, he was appointed 
Brigadier-General of Volunteers, and assigned to com- 
mand the advance of the Federal forces then in Ken- 
tucky, at Camp Nevin. Here, and at Green Eiver, he 
organized his splendid Second Division, with which he 
afterward marched to Nashville, and thence toward 
the Tennessee River. 

On the 6th of April, 1862, alarmed by the sullen 
sound of distant artillery, and learning the precarious 
situation of Grant's army, he moved his division, over 
desperate roads, twenty-two miles, to Savannah, and 
there embarked on steamboats for Pittsburg Landing. 
After clearing a way with the bayonet through the 
army of stragglers that swarmed upon the bank of the 
river, soon after daylight on the morning of the 7th 
of April, the Second Division of the Army of the Ohio 
advanced through the sad scenes of our defeat the day 
before, and deployed, with stout hearts and cheers, upon 
the field of Shiloh. General McCook fought his troops 
that day with admirable judgment. He held them in 
hand; his line of battle was not once broken — it was 
not once retired; but was steadily and determinedly 
advanced until the enemy fled, and the reverse of the 
day before was more than redeemed by a splendid 
victory. 

In the movement on Corinth, a few weeks after the 



44 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

battle of Shiloh, General McCook had the honor of 
being in the advance of General Buell's army corps, 
and his skirmishers were among the first to scale the 
enemy's works. 

The rank of major-general of volunteers was soon 
after conferred upon him, in view of his distinguished 
services — a promotion not undeserved. 

After the evacuation of Corinth, the command of 
General McCook was moved through Northern Ala- 
bama to Huntsville, thence to Battle Creek, where his 
forces remained for two months, in front of Bragg's 
army at Chattanooga. Upon the withdrawal of Buell's 
army from Alabama and Tennessee, General McCook 
moved his division, by a long march of four hundred 
miles, back to Louisville. 

Here he was assigned to command the First Corps 
in the Army of the Ohio, and started on a new cam- 
paign, under Buell, in pursuit of Bragg. The enemy 
were met and engaged near Perryville, and two divi- 
sions of McCook's corps (one of them composed of raw 
recruits) bore the assault of almost the entire army of 
General Bragg. The unexpected and unannounced 
withdrawal of General Gilbert's forces on his right; 
the sad and early loss of those two noble soldiers, Ter- 
rell and Jackson, and the tardiness of reinforcements, 
made the engagemen-t a desperate one, and resulted 
in a victory, incomplete but honorable, to the Union 
forces. After the battle of Chaplin Hills, Bragg's army, 
worn and broken, fled in dismay from Kentucky. 
The army corps of Major-General McCook was after- 
ward moved to Nashville, and he assumed command 
of the Federal forces in that vicinity. 



SKETCH OF GENERAL MCCOOK. 45 

On the 6th of November, 1862, on tlie arrival of 
Major-General Ptosecrans, who succeeded Major-General 
Buell in command. General McCook was assigned to 
command the right wing in the Department of the 
Cumberland. On the 26th of December, 1862, the 
Army of the Cumberland moved from Nashville to 
attack the enemy in position in front of Murfreesboro. 
General McCook commanded the right. On the even- 
ing of December 30 the two armies were in line of 
battle, confronting each other. Rosecrans had massed 
his reserves on the left, to crush the rebel right with 
heavy columns, and turn their position. Bragg, unfor- 
tunately, learning of his dispositions during the night, 
massed almost his entire army in front of McCook, and 
in the gray of the following morning, and before we 
had attacked on the left, advanced with desperate fury 
upon the right wing. Outnumbered, outflanked, and 
overpowered, the right was forced to retire, not, how- 
ever, until its line of battle was marked with the 
evidences of its struggle and the fearful decimation of 
the enemy. To check the advancing rebel masses, 
already flushed with anticipated victory, the Federal 
reserves moved rapidly to the rescue. The furious 
onslaught of the enemy was resisted, and the right 
and the fortunes of the day were saved. 

The rebels, whipped on the left and center, checked 
on the right, foiled in every attack, having lost nearly 
one-third of their numbers, fled from the field on the 
night of the 3d of January, and the victorious Union 
army advanced through their intrenchments into Mur- 
freesboro. The great battle of Stone River, dearly 
won, and incomplete in its results, was yet a victory. 



46 . INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

The Mght was turned and forced to retire in the 
first day's fight. Whether this was attributable to 
accidental causes, that decide so many important en- 
gagements, or to the superior generalship of the rebel 
commander, it is at least certain that generalship was 
not wanting in the disposition of the forces under 
General McCook; nor was courage wanting in his 
troops. 

Major-General McCook now commands the Twen- 
tieth Army Corps. 



LOOKING FOE, A DEAD NEPHEW. 47 



CHAPTER IV. 

Looking fob the Bod-t op a Dead Nephew on the Field op Murfeeesboko^ 
The 6th Ohio at MuKFREESBono — The Dead op the 6th — The 35th Indi- 
ana — Putting Contrabands to Some Service — Anxiett of Owners to Retain 
THEIR Slaves — Conduct of a JIistress — "Don't Shoot, Massa, herb I 
Is ! " — Kidd's Safeguard — " Always Been a Union Man" — Negroes Exhibit- 
ing THEIR Preference foe their Feiends. 

On the gory field of Murfreesboro, upon the usher- 
ing in of the new year, many a noble life was ebbing 
away. It was a rainy, dismal night; and, on travers- 
ing that field, I saw many a spot sacred to the memory 
of my loved companions of the glorious 6th Ohio. I 
incidentally heard of the death of a nephew in that 
fight. I thought of his poor mother. How could I 
break the news to her ! Yes, there was I, surrounded 
bj hundreds of dead and wounded, pitying the living. 
0, how true it is that — 

Death's swift, unerring dart brings to its victim calm and peaceful rest, 
While those who live mourn and live on — the arrow in their breast 1 

With anxious haste I sought his body during that night. 
Many an upturned face, some with pleasing smile, and 
others with vengeance depicted, seemed to meet my 
gaze. 

Stragglers told me to go further to the left. " There 's 
where Crittenden's boys gave 'em h — 1!" Just to the 



48 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

right of the railroad I found young Stephens, of the 
24th Ohio. His leg was shattered. He called me by- 
name, and begged me to get him some water, as he was 
perishing. I went back to the river, stripped three or 
four dead of their canteens, and filled them, and re- 
turned. He told me that young Tommy Burnett was 
only wounded. He saw him carried back. This re- 
lieved my anxiety. The next day the dead were buried. 
There, amid the. shot and shell and other debris of the 
battle-field, the dead heroes of the 6th lie, until the 
last trump shall call. 

A few days afterward I met one of the officers of 
that regiment. Of him I eagerly inquired as to its 
fate. A tear fell from his manly eye as he exclaimed, 
"0, sad enough, Alf! Our boys were terribly cut 
up; but they fought like tigers — no flinching there; 
no falling out of line; shoulder to shoulder they stood 
amid the sheeted flame; and, though pressed by almost 
overwhelming numbers, no blanched cheek, no craven 
look, not the slightest token of fear was visible. The 
boys were there to do or die. They were Ohio boys, 
and felt a pride in battling ibr their country and her 
honor." And when I asked of names familiar, the loss, 
indeed, seemed fearful. ''What became," said I, "of 
Oily Eockenfield?" "Dead!" was the reply. "And 
George Eidenour?" "Wounded — can not live!" 

Dave Medary, a perfect pet of the regiment, a boy 
so childlike, so quiet in his deportment, yet with as 
brave a heart as Julius Caesar — Little Dave was 
killed ! I saw his grave a few days after. It was half 
a mile to the left of the railroad ; and, although it was 
January, the leaves of the prairie-rose were full and 



THE DEAD OF THE SIXTH OHIO. 49 

green, bending over him as if in mourning for the 
early dead. 

Jack Colwell — few of the typos of Cincinnati but 
knew Jack, or Add, as he was frequently called — poor 
Jack died from want of attention ! His wound was in 
the leg, below the knee. I saw him a week after the 
battle, and the ball was not yet extracted. 

Adjutant Williams, Lieutenant Foster, Captain Mc- 
Alpin, Captain Tinker, Lieutenant SchfefFer, young 
Montaldo, Harry Simmonds, A. S. Shaw, John Croity, 
and many others, were wounded or killed in the terrific 
storm of shot and shell sent by the rebel horde under 
Breckinridge. At one time every standard-bearer was 
wounded, and for a moment the flag of the 6th lay 
in the dust ; but Colonel Anderson seized it and waved 
it in proud defiance, wounded though he was. The Col- 
onel soon found claimants for the flag, and had to give 
it up to those to whose proud lot it fell to defend it. 

0! the wild excitement of a fight! How completely 
carried away men become by enthusiasm ! They know 
no danger; they see none — are oblivious to every thing 
but hope of victory ! Men behold their boon compan- 
ions fall, yet onward they dash with closed ranks, 
themselves the next victims. 

There are few in the Army of the Cumberland who 
have not heard of the 35th Lidiana, commanded by 
Colonel Mullen, of Madison, and as fine an Irish regi- 
ment as ever trod the poetic sod of the Emerald Isle. 
On their march up from Huntsville, Alabama, toward 
Louisville, Kentucky, on the renowned parallel run 
between Buell and Bragg, the command were short 
of provisions. Half-rations v/ere considered a rarity. 
5 



60 INCIDENTS OP THE WAR. 

Father Cony, who is at all times assiduous in his duties 
to his flock, had called his regiment toQ;etlier, and was 
instilling into their minds the necessity of their trusting 
in Providence. He spoke of Jesus feeding the multi- 
tude upon three barley loaves and five small fishes. Just 
at this juncture an excitable, stalwart son of Erin arose 
and shouted: ''Bully for him! He 's the man we want 
for the quarter-Tnaster of this regiment!" 

Early in January General Rosecrans issued his or- 
ders that all the men that could possibly be spared 
from detail duty should be immediately placed into the 
ranks, and that negroes should be "conscripted" or cap- 
tured to take their places as teamsters, blacksmiths, 
cooks, etc. By this means the Third Division of the 
Army of the Cumberland, then under General James 
B. Steadman, was increased eight hundred men — men 
acclimated — men who could shoulder a musket. This 
was all done in less than three weeks. The negroes 
were all taken from rebel plantations. 

One morning Colonel Vandeveer, of the 35th Ohio, 
commanding the Third Brigade, sent an orderly to my 
tent to inquire if I would not like to accompany an 
excursion into the enemy's country. As items were 
scarce, I at once assented; and, although scarce day- 
break, off we went. The Colonel informed me that, as 
I was a good judge of darkeys. General Steadman had 
advised my going with the party. 

We called first at Mrs. Carmichael's, and got two 
boys, aged, respectively, fifteen and seventeen. Mrs. 
Carmichael bogged, and, finally, wept quite bitterly at 
the prospect of losing her boys — said those were all 
she had loft — (she had sent the others South). Sho 



ANXIETY OF SLAVE-OWNERS. 51 

plead with us not to take ''them boys" — said "they 
wern't no account — could n't do nothing nohow." But 
the mother of these boys told our men a different story, 
and begged us to take the boys, "For," said she, "dey 
does all de plantin' corn and tendin' in de feel. Dey 's 
my chill'n, and if I never sees 'em agin, I want de satis- 
faction of knowin' dey is free I " 

Mrs. Carmichael's supplications for the negroes not 
to be taken from her were quite pitiful. She said they, 
had been alters raised jest like as they were her own 
flesh and blood, and she just keered for 'em the same. 
But, as Mrs. Carmichael had two sons in the rebel army, 
the boys were taken. Upon the first order to come 
with us they seemed delighted, which caused the mis- 
tress to become very wrathy. I told the boys to go to 
their cabin and get their blankets, as they would need 
them. Judge my surprise when this kind-hearted 
woman, who had just informed me that she had "allers 
treated them boys as if they were her own flesh and 
blood" — this woman seized the blankets from the half- 
naked boys, and fairly shrieked at them: "You nasty, 
dirty little nigger thieves ! if them Yankees want to steal 
you, let 'em find you in blankets; /'m not a-going to 
do it!" I merely inquired if that was the way in 
which she treated her other children — those in the 
EEBEL armyf 

From thence we went to Mrs. Kidd's, who had a 
husband and two sons in the rebel service. On our ap- 
proach she endeavored to secrete some of the blacks, 
hut they wouldn't "stay hid." The cause of the visit 
was explained. The rebels had been driving most of 
the likely negroes South. They were using them 



52 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

against the Government; and it was thought, by some, 
that they might as well work for as against the Union. 
They were raising their crops, running their mills, 
manufacturing their army-wagons, etc., besides support- 
ing the families of the rebels, thus placing every able- 
bodied white man of the South in the hands of the 
government. The Federal service needed teamsters 
and hospital nurses and cooks. 

Mrs. Kidd seemed quite a reasonable woman — said 
she thought she understood the policy of the North, and 
that the South knew that slavery was their strength. 
I made the remark, that, probably, if her husband 
knew she would be left without help, perhaps he would 
be induced to return and respect the old flag that had 
at all times, while he was loyal to it, defended him. 

This little speech on my part elicited a rejoinder from 
a young miss, a daughter of Mrs. Kidd, sixteen or sev- 
enteen years of age, who flirted around, and with a nose 
that reached the altitude of at least "eighty-seven" 
degrees, exclaimed — • 

"I don't want my par nor my brothers to come 
home not till every one of you Yankees is driven from 
our sile ! " 

Some of the boys were busy hunting for a secreted 
negro, one whom this young lady had stored away for 
safety. A soldier opened a smoke-house door, at which 
the young Secesh fairly yelled — 

"There aint no nigger there! You Yankees haint a 
bit o' sense ! You do n't know a smoke-house from a 
hut, nohow ! " 

Supposing the negro, who we felt almost sure was 
there, might possibly have escaped, we were about re- 



DO n't shoot, massa. 53 

tiring with those ah-eady collected, when I suggested, 
loud enough for any one to hear about the building, 
that the whole squad should pour a volley through that 
rickety old dormer-window that projected from the 
room, when, much to our astonishment, and amid roars 
of laughter, appeared a woolly head, white eye-balls 
distended, the darkey yelling loud and fast — 

"Don't shoot, massa! don't shoot! here I is! I 's 
a comin' ! De missus made me clime on dis roof. I 
wants to go wid you folks anyhow ! " 

Mr. Grossman's plantation was then visited ; but, as 
the rebels had driven him away because of his Union- 
ism, and taken his horses, his property was undis- 
turbed by us. 

From thence we visited Nolinsville — met a gang of 
twenty "likely-looking boys," stout, healthy fellows, 
who had clubbed together to come to the Union camp. 
They told us the rebs were only four miles off, "script- 
in' all the niggers dar was in de fields, and a-runnin' 
'em South." These were added to our stock in trade. 

On our way back, a couple of old, sour-looking women 
were standing on the steps that were built for them to 
climb a fence, who, seeing so many blacks, inquired 
what we were taking them for. "To work," was the 
reply. "The rebels were about to run them South, 
and we wanted them to work for us." 

"Now who told you that?" they inquired. 

"The negroes themselves, madam. Many of them 
came voluntarily, to escape being sent South." 

"0, yes! you Federals git your information from 
the niggers altogether." 

" Yes, madam I " facetiously replied Captain Dicker- 



54 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

son, of the 2d Minnesota E,egiment, "that's a fact. 
All the reliable information does come from them." 

On our homeward trip we called at what is known 
as "Kidd's Mills," between Concord Church and Nolins- 
ville. There were there quite a number employed upon 
the lumber and grist. A selection was made from the 
lot. They all wanted to come, but some were too 
young, and others too old. 

Old man Kidd said he had a " sajieguard from the 
Gineral, The Gineral had been up to see his darters, 
Delilah and Susan, and give him a safeguard." Upon 
examination it was found to be a mere request. Kequests 
don't stand in military (not arbitrary enough). Then 
the old man declared he had always been a Union 
man — " allers said this war wern't no good — that the 
South had better stand by the old flag." 

I at once told him if such ivas the ease he was all 
right — to just get his horse and come with me, and if 
he had '^allers'' been a "Union man" or a non-com- 
batant, why, they would all be returned to him. 

The negroes were grouped around with anxious faces, 
and with rather astonished looks ; and, as Mr. Kidd 
went to the stable, a venerable, white-haired old darkey, 
who had been told to stand back — he was too old to 
join the Union teamsters — came forward, and begged 
to be taken. "Why, I does heap o' work. I tends dis 
mill ; I drives a team fustrate. Please take de olc man, 
and let him die free ! " 

Another negro, too old to take, spoke up and said : 
" What was dat de old man Kidd told you ?" 

" Why, " I replied, " he said he had always been a 
Union man." 



"always a union man." 55 

" De Lor' bress my soul ! Did he say dat he was 
a Union man ? " 

" Yes ! " 

" Well ! well ! well ! Dat lie was a Union man ! 
"Well ! well ! well ! And he 's gwine to de Gineral for 
to tell him dat; and dat ole man is a member ob de 
Church ! Well ! well ! well ! Why, look heah, my 
frien', when de rebs was here only a few weeks ago — 
when dey was here, dat ole man got on his white hoss, 
and took de seceshum flag, and rode, and rode, and 
waved dat rebel flag and shouted, and more dan hol- 
lered for Jeff Davis, and now he Union man ! He 
wants de Gineral to gib up dese here colored people — • 
dat's what's de 'matter wid him!" 

In an hour after we arrived in camp, sure enough, 
the old Kidd and other parties were there, expecting 
or hoping to get their darkeys back ; but General 
Steadman told them if the negroes wished to return, 
they could do so, but, if they chose rather to work for 
"Uncle Sam," why, his orders were to use them. 

"Well, Gineral, you just tell my niggers that they 
can go home with me," said Kidd. 

" ! they can if they want to." So, out goes Kidd, 
smiling as a "basket of chips." 

" Boys, the Gineral says you can all go home with 
me." 

" If you want to," was my addition to his sentence. 

Not a negro stirred from the line. After a brief 
consultation, in an under tone, at which Kidd, I 
noticed, was becoming very impatient, Kidd broke the 
quietude by saying : 

" Come on, boys — come, Jim." 



56 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

Jim looked over to Bob and said : '' Bob, what are 
you going to do ? " 

" Me ! Ise gwine to stay for de Union ! " 

Old man Kidd looked beaten. " Well, Jim, what 
will you do ? " 

" ! I does what Bob does ! " 

Thi% same old Kidd had been in the habit of going 
over the country enlisting recruits for the rebel serv- 
ice — telling them that he was an old man, or he would 
go himself; that the old folks expected to be taxed to 
take care of the soldiers' families ; that if they wanted 
corn or any thing from his mill, while they were in the 
army, to come and get it. By such language he in- 
duced several men, who had only small families, to en- 
list. One of them was indebted to Kidd about thirteen 
dollars, and after he had been in the army a month or 
two, Kidd dunned him for the old bill, remarking : 

" Well, John, you 're in the army now, gittin' your 
regular pay now — guess you can pay that little bill 
now, can't you ? " 



EESERVED TIMBEE. 57 



CHAPTER V. 

CCTTINO Down a Rebel's Reserved Timber — Home Aoaiit — Loomis and his 

COLDWATER BaTTERY — SECESSION PoETRY — HEAVY JOKE ON AN " EGYPTIAN " 

Regiment. 

Just after General Schofield took command of the 
Third Division, Roddy Patterson, aided by a division 
of infantry, made his appearance near our camp, and, 
as we were weak in numbers, fortifications were erected 
in every direction, trenches dug, and efforts made to 
place the troops in the best trim to give the rebs a 
"fine reception." 

There was one splendid piece of timber-land that 
might possibly come in possession of the rebels and do 
us much mischief. General Schofield ordered it cleared, 
and soon twelve hundred axes were resounding through 
the vast forest, and Abe's rail-splitters were at work 
forming "abatis" from the fallen trees, while earth- 
works commanding the position were soon erected. 

Captain Stinchcomb was the provost-marshal of the 
division, and old man Jordan was in the habit of going 
to him with all his grievances. The soldiers had made 
an awful gap in his reserved timber before he found it 
out ; but, as soon as he did so, he made for head-quar- 
ters, and found the Captain at dinner. 



68 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

Scene 1 — Act 1 — Enter Old Man. 

" Look a-heah, Gineral Stinclicomb, them boys of 
yourn is cuttiii' all my timber down ! " 

Captain Stinclicomb, aifecting great surprise, ex- 
claimed, " Is it possible ! is it possible ! " 

" Y-a-a-a-s ; all my resarve, too ! There ! there ! do 
you hear that? Them's trees a-fallin', and them's the 
boys yellin' as they fall." 

*' What are they cutting them for, Mr. Jordan ? " 

"God only knows! I don't. I think just for to be 
doin' mischief. Nauen else in this world." 

" Why didn't you stop them ? " inquired Stinchcomb. 

" ! kase I was af eared. There ! there ! do you hear 
that agin? Them's my trees!" 

" Well, you 'd better go right down and order them 
to stop." 

" 0, no, Gineral. It would n't do a bit of good. Them 
there boys would just cuss the life out of me. They only 
laugh at me. Won't you please go and have it stopped ? 
Won't you?" 

Suffice it to say, when Captain S. got there it ivas too 
late. 

There are many little incidents connected with the 
army, which, being jotted down in my " day-book," dur- 
ing service, belong to the public. 

"Home Again" is a song ever joyous to the soldier, 
and I remember a little incident in relation to that 
song and a serenading party of " young and festive 
cusses" belonging to Uncle Sam's service. 

There is residing near Murfreesboro a Secession 
family consisting of a rebel widow and four sprightly 
daughters. 



A SERENADE. 69 

Now, our " blue-coats " are proverbial for their gal- 
lantry in presence of the ladies, and the Secesh girls 
smile as benignly upon a Federal soldier, if he be good- 
looking, as they would upon the most ultra fire-eater of 
the South. The mothers don't like this — but mothers 
can't help themselves in many instances. Our boys will 
visit and enjoy a lively chat with the girls whenever 
occasion offers. A quartette, of fine vocal abilities, 
belonging to the gallant Eousseau's division, had prac- 
ticed several beautiful ballads, preparatory to a grand 
serenade to the daughters of the buxom widow. 

Night threw her mantle o'er the earth just as the 
serenaders started upon their expedition. Arriving in 
dew course of time, they commenced their melodies. 
The moon was peeping out from behind the far-distant 
hill as they commenced, 

"Koll on, silver moon," 

at which I suggested to the party there should be a 
big premium, just now, on " silver moons." The sere- 
naders smiled grimly, in token of admiration of the 
"goak," and commenced — 

" Thine eyes, like the stars that are gleaming, 
Have entered the depths of my soul." 

Now, the repetition of " my soul " sounded to me exactly 
like mice-hole, and I suggested the propriety of substi- 
tuting a rat-hole, at which several became wrathy, and 
proposed a mustard-plaster for my head. 

The young ladies, aroused from their nocturnal slum- 
bers, glided like sylphs to the windows, and threw sev- 
eral bouquets to the "gallant choristers," after the 



I 

60 INCIDENTS OF THE WAE. 

reception of which, and sundry pressures to fond hearts 
of the "beautiful flowers," the quartette commenced 
the song of " Home Again," etc., and 

"0, it fills my soul with joy, to meet my friends once more." 

This brought the widow to the window, who, hastily- 
flinging back the shutter, screamed out, at the top of 
her voice: " If it will give you Yankees any greater joy 
to get home than it will me, I hope to gracious you '11 
stop your confounded noise and go home and meet your 
friends,, for you 've got none here." 

This was a bomb-shell thrown right at the party, and 
such a crouching down and gradual sliding off you can 
scarcely imagine. To be led, as 't were, to the seventh 
heaven of bliss by the fair daughters' presentation of 
beautiful bouquets, and then to have all their hopes 
blasted by the termagant voice of the mamma ! If any 
of my readers ever visit Rousseau's division and inquire 
for the serenaders, my word for it, the gentlemen con- 
cerned will have no recollection of the serenade. 

Colonel Loomis, whose name is now engraven in his- 
tory, and whose battery is mentioned with pride every- 
where in the Army of the Cumberland, was, during the 
Virginia campaign. Captain Loomis. He was late Chief 
of Artillery upon Rousseau's staflf. Captain Loomis, 
with his train, arrived in Cincinnati one Sunday morn- 
ing, on his way to the Army of Virginia. Upon each 
caisson and every piece of artillery was plainly painted 
" Coldwater Battery." 

Services in a church on Sixth Street were just con- 
cluded, and the warlike array attracted the congrega- 



SECESSION POETRY. 61 

tion's attention, and the rather splendid figure of the 
young though "venerable-looking" Captain Loomis 
demanded a large share of attention. The pastor of the 
church introduced himself, spoke with admiration of 
the fine appearance of the Captain's men, etc., and, with 
a hearty pressure of the hand, remarked : 

" Captain Loomis, yours is a noble motto ; stick to 
that, stick to that, my young soldier. You have many 
hardships to undergo, but your glorious motto of Cold 
Water will carry you safely through." 

Loomis, for the first time, caught the idea of the par- 
son, but was too courteous to undeceive the preacher by 
informing him that his battery was raised in the town 
of Coldwater, Michigan. I have spent many a pleasant 
hour with the Captain, but never could "see" the "cold 
water" part of his battery. 

A very pretty and pathetic little poem was handed 

me by one of Secessia's daughters, upon a prolific* 

theme, entitled 
•^ 

The Dying Soldier. 

My noble commander! thank God, you have come; 
You know the dear ones who are waiting at home, 
And 0! it were dreadful to die here alone, 
No hand on my brow, and my comrades all gone. 

I thought I would die many hours ago, 

And those who are waiting me never could know 

That here, in the faith of its happier years. 

My soul has not wandered one moment from theirs. 

The dead were around; but my soul was away 
With the roses that bloom round my cottage to-day. 
I thought that I sat where the jessamine twines, 
And gathered the delicate buds from the vines. 



62 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

And there — like a bird that had folded its wings, 
At home, 'mid tlie smile of all beautiful things, 
With sweet words of welcome, and kisses of love — 
Was one I will miss in yon heaven above. 

By the light that I saw on her radiant brow, 
She watches and waits there and prays for me now. 
My captain, bend low; for this poor, wounded side 
Is draining my heart of its last crimson tide. 

Some day, when you leave this dark place, and go free, 
You will meet a fair gii'l — she will question of me! 
She has kissed this bright cui-1, as it lay on my head; 
When it goes back alone, she will know I am dead. 
And tell her the soul, which on earth was her own, 
Is waiting and weeping in heaven alone. 

My Mother! God help her! Her grief will be wild 
When she hears the mad Hessians have murdered her child; 
But tell her 'twill be one sweet chime in my knell, 
That the flag of the South now waves where I fell! 

It is well, it is well, thus to die in my ycutlj, 

A martyr to Freedom and Justice and Truth! 

Farewell to earth's hopes — precious dreams of my heart — 

My life's going out; but my love sliall depart^ 

On the wings that my soul has unfurled, 

Going up, soft and sweet, to that beautiful world. 



A Joke on an ''Egyptian" Regiment. 

A well-known commander was drilling a brigade at 
" Kripple Kreek," a short time since, and in it was a 
slim portion of the "1159th" Illinois. Quite a largo 
number of this regiment have deserted upon every oc- 
casion offered, the men generally being very inattentive. 



A JOKE ON AN "EGYPTIAN" REGIMENT. 63 

The commanding officer of "all that is left of them" 
was severely censured, the other day, for dereliction of 
duty. The General swore by the Eternal he wished 
the Colonel of the " 1159th" would "go Jiome and join 
his reo-iment." 



64 INCIDENTS OP THE WAR. 



CHAPTER VI. 

General Tuechin — Mrs. Gf.ner'al Turchin in Command op the VANOuARn or 
THE 19th Illinois — The 18th Ohio at Athens — Chili>ren and Fools Always 
Tell the Truth — Picket Talk — About Soldiers Voting — Captain Kirk's 
Line of Battle. 

It is well known by all that General Turchin has 
been fully vindicated. Captain Heaton, of Columbiana 
County, who was an eye-witness of his trial, and who 
knew the noble Russian, said to me, in speaking of this 
gallant soldier, " He looked like a lion among a set of 
jackals ! " General Turchin was basely persecuted. 
He came out of the ordeal unscathed. The corre- 
spondent of the Gazette, who was in Huntsville, gave 
an account of affairs under Rousseau, who was as rigid 
in the punishment of rebels as Mitchel was before 
him. The court-martial convened to try Turchin for 
punishing traitors bid fair to last for months, under 
Buell's management. 

Mrs. Turchin, before the arrest of her husband, had 
been making the campaign of Northern Alabama in 
his company, enduring, with the utmost fortitude, and 
for weeks together, all the hardships incident to a sol- 
dier's life. To ride on horseback, forty or fifty miles 
per day, was to her a mere matter of amusement, and 
in the recent march of the 19th Illinois, from Win- 



THE EIGHTEENTH OHIO AT ATHENS. 65 

Chester to Bellefonte, she is said to have taken command 
of the vanguard, and to have given most vigorous and 
valuable directions for driving off and punishing the 
infamous bushwhackers who infested the road. These 
and similar things had so much excited the admiration 
of Colonel Turchin's men, that they would have fol- 
lowed his gallant lady into the field of battle with all 
the enthusiasm that fired the hearts of the French 
chivalry when gathered around the standard of the 
Maid of Orleans. As soon as Colonel Turchin was 
arrested, Mrs. Turchin suddenly disappeared. The 
next that was heard from her she was in Washington 
City; and now the story goes, that when she left the 
South she hastened to Chicago, enlisted the sympathies 
of noble-hearted men in the cause of her husband, 
prevailing upon a delegation of noble Illinoisans to ac- 
company her to Washington, and, with their assistance, 
secured the confirmation of the Colonel as a brigadier- 
general of volunteers. Truly, in the lottery matri- 
monial. Colonel Turchin had the fortune to draw an 
invaluable prize. 

All that has been alleged against Generals Turchin 
and Mitchel authorizing the sacking of Athens, Ala- 
bama, appears to have reacted; and, except General 
Rousseau, they were the most popular officers in that 
region. 

The 18th Ohio was stationed at Athens, and encamped 
upon the fair-grounds. Here they were assailed by 
Scott's rebel cavalry. They resisted for some hours, 
when, learning through their scouts that an overwhelm- 
ing force of the enemy were advancing against them, 
they thought best to retire, which they did in good 
6 



66 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

order. As they passed tlirougli the town, on their way 
to Huntsville, some rash, inconsiderate rebel sympa- 
thizers jeered at and insulted them, cheering lustily for 
Jeff Davis and the Southern Confederacy. One or two 
of them, also, seized their guns, and when the rebel 
forces made their appearance, joined them in pursuit of 
our soldiers. A feeling of vindictive wrath sprang up 
in the minds of the boys of the 18th, and when they 
met the 19th Illinois and other troops, who, under 
command of Colonel Turchin, were comins; to the 
rescue, they naturally magnified their own loss, and 
told the rescuers exaggerated stories of the manner 
in which they had been treated by the citizens of 
Athens. 

Under those circumstances the whole force re-entered 
the town, driving the rebels before them, and, in the 
midst of great excitement, vowing vengeance. Then 
came the inevitable result: some good soldiers were 
carried away into acts of unwarrantable violence, and 
a few unprincipled scoundrels seized upon the oppor- 
tunity to plunder, pilfer, and steal. But the mass of 
the forces entered the place under the impression (as 
appears from the testimony before the court-martial) 
that it was to be sacked and burned, as a just and 
proper military punishment. This impression was, un- 
fortunately, not corrected by Colonel Turchin, because 
it was, in all probability, unknown to him. It arose, 
no doubt, from the fact that a general order had been 
issued, or, as reported, was about to be issued,- de- 
nouncing, in severe terms, all citizens who should fire 
upon, or in any way molest our troops, and threaten- 
ing both them and their property with destruction. 



CHILDEEN AND FOOLS ALWAYS TELL THE TRUTH. 67 

Such a proclamation or order was, in fact, issued about 
this time. 

Notwithstanding it was generally understood that 
the plundering of Athens was permitted, at least 
three-fourths of the soldiers voluntarily abstained from 
laying their hands upon a single dollar's worth of pri- 
vate property. 

Now, as to the outrages themselves, I unhesitatingly 
pronounce that they have been greatly exaggerated. 
To say that the town was in any way "ruined" is 
simply an exhibition of ignorance on the part of those 
who are not acquainted with the facts, and a falsehood 
on the part of those who are. 

Some three or four stores were broken into, and the 
most valuable part of the merchandise abstracted; the 
contents of the apothecary's shop were badly injured, 
and articles of value were taken from at least a dozen 
houses ; some thousands of dollars' worth of horses, mules, 
and "niggers" were taken out of the town and suburbs; 
two or three scoundrels abused the persons of as many 
colored women; and this was the extent of the "ruin" 
inflicted upon Athens. I visited it more than a month 
ago. I saw no sign of "ruin," dissolution, or decay, 
and I am too good a friend of the Athenians not to say 
that I consider their beautiful town as being to-day the 
most flourishing in all North Alabama; and if a citizen 
from any other place, especially from Huntsville, should, 
go to Athens and say otherwise, nothing but the pres- 
ence of the military would prevent him from getting a 
thrashing upon the spot. 

It is an old and trite saying, that " children and fools 
always tell the truth." Captain Moar and Lieutenant 



68 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

"Wood, of General Steadman's staif, went out with a full 
expedition. It was under Colonel Bishop, of the 2d 
Minnesota; but these staff officers preceded the party. 
We arrived at the proposed field, where we were to 
bivouac for the night. A house was near, and Colonel 
Moar proposed to go there and order supper. There 
were four females in the house. All pretended to be glad 
to receive us. "We brought them sugar and coffee, arti- 
cles they had not enjoyed for over a year. While sup- 
per was preparing, Lieutenant Wood, seeing a very 
pretty little girl, said to her, " Come here, sissy." 

The child reluctantly advanced, and as the Lieuten- 
ant placed her upon his knee, the little innocent looked 
up and said, " I hate Yankees ! " 

The mother tried to catch the eye of the child. 

Lieutenant Wood said, ''0, no, you don't!" 

" Yes, I do," reiterated the child. 

"Why, sissy, what makes you hate Yankees?" 

'''Cause mother told me I must," was the child'a 
reply. 

The mother blushed crimson, and said, very con- 
fusedly, " Why, Hattie ! I never ! " 

Picket Talk. 

I have often heard pickets chaff one another. Just 
after the capture of New Orleans, one of our boys, on 
picket duty, as light dawned, discovered a rebel just 
lighting his breakfast-fire up a ravine. Our picket 
called out to the rebel to stop building fires and come 
over and take breakfast with him. The rebel replied : 

" No, I shan't. You haven't got any coffee." 

" Yes, I have," says the Union soldier. 



ABOUT SOLDIERS VOTING. G9 

" Well, you haven't any sugar? " 

"Yes, we have. We've got Orleans." 

The man who makes the assertion that our boys in 
the field, when called upon to vote on resolutions, are 
influenced by fear of officers, is most grossly mistaken. 
Why, your American soldier is the most independent 
" cuss " in the world ; and if a regiment is in line, and 
asked to vote, you may rest assured they vote as they 
please, and are governed by the dictates of their own 
consciences. The great address that was sent from the 
army was voted upon in this way : The regiments were 
drawn up in line, the address read, and the color-bearers 
were asked, " Do you indorse the address to which you 
have listened ? " From every one came the hearty " I 
do ! " when the colors were ordered two paces front. 
The regiments then voted on the address, the " ayes" 
stepping out in line with the colors, and, if there had 
been any "noes," they were to stand fast; but I have 
yet to hear of the man who did so. They rallied on 
their colors to a man, and stood with an unbroken front. 

During the fight this side of Chapel Hill, Captain 
Kirk, one of the General's aids, seeing two rebels a 
little way off", on a by-road, put spurs to horse and gave 
chase. We all watched him very eagerly until he 
ascended the hill, when three more rebs joined the two, 
and made a stand. Kirk, thinking discretion the bet- 
ter part of valor, reined in his horse, when, to the 
infinite amusement of the staff, young Lu. Steadman (a 
son of the General, and, though but sixteen years of age, 
a gallant boy) exclaimed: " Father, father, look yonder; 
Kirk has formed a line of battle !" It is scarcely neces- 
sary to say that Kirk soon changed his base on a double- 
quick. 



YO INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 



CHAPTER VII. 



Comic Scenes — Impobtation of Yankees — Would n't Go Round — Major Boynton 
AND THE Chicken — Monotony of Camp Ijife — Expehience on a Scoutino 
Expedition — Laez Anderson, Esq., in Camp — A Would-be Secessionist 
Caught in his Own Trap— Guthrie Gray Bill of Fare for a Bebel " Re- 
ception" — Pic Russell among the Snakes. 



Akmt of the Cumberland, Third Division, 

Camp near Triune, Tenn., 3Iay 2, 1863. 



} 



''What will become of all of us women?" said an 
excited female to Colonel Vandeveer, one morning. 
" The States-rights men 'scripted all the young men, 
and you are drivin' all the old away. What will we 
ladies do ? " 

" Import Yankees," was the gallant Colonel's reply. 
" We are raising a big stock especially for this market, 
and can spare any quantity." 

" ! but Yankees don't suit us ; we'd rather have our 
own people," was Secesh's reply. 

" ! if that 's the case, you women had better use 
your influence to get the traitors to lay down their arms 
and return to their homes, and behave themselves as 
honest men should, and that will end this little dispute, 
and you can have all the men you want." 

" Well, Colonelj we are all tired of this war, and 
would be mighty glad to know our kinfolks were on 
their way home ; but it will be mighty grindin' to 'em 



wouldn't go round. 71 

to have to come back and acknowledge that they 
couldn't lick you Yankees." 

Deserters from the rebel army, I am told by citizens, 
are fast making their appearance wherever they can get 
the protection of our forces, and as we advance they 
will no doubt increase. 

The provost-marshal of the division was kept busy 
administering the oath to those who came in from the 
surrounding country to Triune. Many very laughable 
incidents occurred at the swearing-in. 

One long, lean, lank specimen of the rebel order came 
up to Captain Stinchcomb, who was proposing the oath. 

" Hallo, mister, are you the captain of these ridge- 
ments around here ? Dr. Wilson, my neighbor over 
across Spring Bottom, said I must come over to the 
feller what swored in folks, and get the Constitution, 
and keep it as long as you folks staid around here." 

"Wouldn't Go Round. 

Captain Airhardt, who was well known as the To- 
pographical Engineer of this division, and one of the 
best-natured men in the world, was engaged in strength- 
ening the fortifications around the camp near Triune, 
and in doing so had occasion to use some fifty men from 
the 2d Minnesota. As the boys had worked faithfully 
for four hours, the Captain thought he would issue a 
ration of whisky to each, and, not having any himself, he 
borrowed some from General Steadman's tent, without 
leave, from a keg the General had been keeping for his 
own medical purposes. He drew off about a gallon. 
The boys were drawn up in line, and the Captain com- 



72 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

menced tlie issue, and as eacli man received his portion 
he was ordered to fall out. They did so, however, seek- 
ing the first opportunity to retire to the other end of 
the line, and again resume a position in the ranks. The 
Captain went after reinforcements of the creature com- 
fort from the before-mentioned keg, and the reinstated 
members of the ditch-diggers were again ready for 
active service. 

This state of thin_gs continued as long as the whisky 
lasted, and as the Captain handed the last ration, he 
looked at the few remaining boys, whom he supposed 
would have to go without any, and expressed his sorrow 
that he had n't enough to go round. The fact was, 
every body had had at least three drinks, 

I spent a very pleasant evening among a party of 
ladies who reside near our camp. Our officers are very 
attentive to them, and the ladies seem thankful for the 
protection. The house was furnished in elegant style. 
We had music, songs, and an elocutionary entertain- 
ment; every thing passing off" pleasantly. As I am 
above suspicion myself, I may remark that I fear for 
the hearts of several of this brigade. Mine is already 
engaged ; had it not been, I could not swear to the con- 
sequences of that visit. One really pretty specimen of 
Secesh sang " The Bonnie Blue Flag," by particular 
desire. She acknowledged she used to go it strong for 
dissolution, but let us hope she is becoming enlightened. 

Major Boynton and the Chicken. 

Miss MoUie Jordan is a peculiar specimen of ye South- 
ern maiden. I heard a good story illustrative of her 
rebellious nature some time ago: 



MAJOE BOYNTON AND THE CHICKEN. 73 

Our troops were then stationed at Concord Church, 
and, in their peregrinations for fodder, came out this 
way, and, among other things, took off several contra- 
bands belonging to Miss Mollie. Some time afterward 
she rode into camp and inquired for Colonel Vandeveer, 
and riding right up to him, she said, "How do, Colo- 
nel ? " The Colonel tipped his hat, a la militaire, in 
token of recognition. " Colonel, you 've been out our 
way and stole all my niggers, and I 've just ridden into 
camp to see if you would be magnanimous enough to 
lend me my blacksmith to shoe this horse ? " 

The Colonel assisted her in alighting; had her boy 
hunted up, and the horse shod. 

Dinner being ready, the lady was invited to partake 
of the repast; and, as she noticed a chicken upon the 
table almost as large as a turkey, she looked across at 
the Colonel, and then at the good-looking Major Boyn- 
ton, and inquired whom she was dining with. 

" 0, with the Major, Miss. Why did you ask ? " said 
the Colonel. 

"I merely wished to know who stole my chickens; 
for those were particular pets of mine, and the only 
ones of that breed in the country." 

The reader can imagine the laugh that took place 
at the Major's expense. As a matter of course, neither 
the Major nor the Colonel knew any thing as to where 
the servant-man had bought the fowls. 

The Tennessee cavalry were out again yesterday, 
with Colonel Brownlow, and touched up the Alabamians. 
They brought in six prisoners. The rebels massed their 
men and undertook to charge us, but our Tennessee 
boys stood their ground, and the rebels backed out. 
7 



74 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

They outnumbered us three to one; but they were not 
aware of that, or perhaps they would have given us fits. 
Now Brownlow is a daring, dashing fellow, and, in 
fact, all the officers and men seem made of the same 
material. 

I suppose you will begin to think I 've got cavalry 
on the brain, I talk so much of those boys ; but they, 
at present, are the only ones out this way doing the 
fighting. When this bully division of infantry does go 
in, you can depend upon it somebody will get hurt. 

All the regiments are quartered in elegant little 
pup- tents, as they call them. These tents are hand- 
somely sheltered with evergreens and various bushes, 
presenting a picturesque appearance. The Lancaster, 
Chillicothe, and Cincinnati boys are vieing with each 
other as to who shall have the neatest camp. 

A chicken-fight is to take place this evening between 
two game-cocks. One is owned by the fat boy of the 
35th, the other by the new grocery-keeper of this brig- 
ade — he with the yellow vest and spectacles. Specta- 
cles can whip fat boy, sure, so I must hurry up to see 
it done. We are striving our best to break up this love 
of cruel sports, but fear our efforts will be fruitless. 

The weather is delightful; garden truck is progress- 
ing finely ; the wheat and oat-fiolds are waving delight- 
fully, while the corn is becoming like a man drinking 
whisky — elevated. With the above horrid joke I close. 
Yours, dismally, till I see my love, 

Alf. 



monotony of camp life. 75 

Reminiscence of Camp Life in Vip.ginia, in 1861. 

Camp Beverly, Va., July 31, 1861. 

A soldier's life becomes irksome when he is en- 
camped for any great length of Lime at any one point. 
A change of scenery, or the busy bustle of a march, 
wearisome though it be, makes the hours pass lightly. 
This is our eighth day at this place, and beautiful 
though the surroundings are, yet they begin to weary 
the eye. The boys want action, and if no prospect 
of a fight is here, they wish for still further progress. 

The chief product of this never-ending and infernal 
mountainous rea-ion seems to be rain and io-norant 

O O 

people. It rains from Monday till Saturday, and com- 
mences fresh on Sunday; and if you put a question of 
the most commonplace order, the only answer you are 
likely to receive is the vacant stare of those you speak 
to. The first relief to this monotony occurred a few 
days since. Captain Bracken, editor of the Indianapo- 
lis Sentinel, who is in command of a splendid cavalry 
company, sent me an invitation to accompany him 
upon a scouting excursion, as a number of houses in 
the vicinity needed a little examination; so, accompa- 
nied by his two lieutenants and our gallant Major, 
Alex. Christopher, together with the ever-afiable Andy 
Hall, _the scouts, mounted upon as fine horses as could 
be selected by Captain Bracken, started jovially on 
duty. " Noiv up the mead, now down the mead," and 
then over hill and dale they sped. Soon the outer 
pickets were passed, and we were in the enemy's 
country, where, 'tis said, the fcister your horse travels 
the less likelihood there is of being shot by guerrillas. 



76 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

In tlie course of the afternoon we visited several 
houses, at one of which quite a quantity of contraband 
stuff was found, wklch loas placed in our canteens. 

At dusk we commenced a homeward tramp; and 
having to pass a house in which I had previously en- 
joyed the hospitality of its inmates, I alighted to 
refresh myself with a cool drink of water, the balance 
of the party going on. I had but just mounted my 
horse, when he took fright, and in a moment he was 
beyond control. Your humble servant cluug with 
tenacity to the brute, and although I told him to 
"whoa," he wouldn't do it. Now he takes a by-road; 
away he flies with lightning speed; 'tis getting dark, 
and the fool horse is running further and further from 
camp. I tried kicking the animal so as to induce him 
to believe that it was me that was forcing him to his 
utmost speed, but 'twas no go. Then, as I came near 
fcxlling, I "affectionately" threw my arms around his 
neck, thinking, if life was spared, what a fine item this 
runaway would make. In vain I tried kicks, seesawing, 
jerks, coaxing, whoaing ; in despair, I gave a loose hold 
of the reins to the runaway, hoping he would get tired, 
endeavoring, however, to keep him in the middle of the 
road. He jumped ditches, turned curves, until I began 
to think I would make a good circus performer, and 
eventually hire out to John Robinson, if safely delivered 
from this perilous expedition. At la-st he took me off 
my guard : turning abruptly to the left on a by-road, 
your correspondent went to the right, heels up in the 
air for a brief space — in fact, a balloon ascension ; the 
balloon's burst was the next vivid thing in my mind, 
for I remembered scratching in the air, and then an 



CAMP LIFE IN VIRGINIA. 77 

almost instantaneous collision with mother Earth, alight- 
ing upon the right side of my hea4, from which the 
blood gushed in a slight attempt at a deluge. As 
luck would have it, some fr'iendly folks came to my res- 
cue, and bathed my head with camphor ; I remounted, 
and, in a few minutes, met my companions, who were 
in search for me. They wet my lips with some of that 
stuff in the canteens. On arriving at camp, and send- 
ing for a surgeon, my wounds were dressed. A broken 
bone in my right hand, a terrific black eye and dis- 
figured forehead, a sprained leg and battered side were 
the result of my excursion. This is the first letter I 
have been able to write since. 

Last Saturday the whole regiment was in the finest 
spirits at seeing among us the kindly face of Cincin- 
nati's universally-beloved citizen, Larz Anderson, and 
it did one good to see the hearty shake of hands our 
gallant officers and men gave him. He leaves for 
home to-day, laden with, no doubt, messages of love to 
many. God bless and speed him on his journey. 

Captain Burdsall arrived to-day from Cheat Mount- 
ain. His command will remain here a few days, acting 
as mounted scouts. The Captain received a serious 
kick from his horse a week or two ago, and has been 
confined to his bed ever since. This company has been 
a very valuable auxiliary to the brigade, both at Cheat 
River Mountain and this place. We are sorry to hear 
of their intended return to Cincinnati in a few weeks. 

The battle-field of Eich Mountain is about four miles 
from this place, and to-day I met with an old veteran, 
upon whose ground they fought. He is a thorough 
Union man, and was a prisoner in the hands of the 



78 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

Secession party. The rebels, to spite the old veteran, 
dug a trench around his house, for burying their dead, 
only eighteen inches below the surface. They also 
ruined his well by throwing in decayed horse-flesh — in 
fact, ruined his old homestead, by cutting down his 
fruit-trees, and various other specimens of Vandalism. 

An incident occurred during the preparation for that 

battle worth mentioning. Mr. , an old man of 

this town, a Representative in the Legislature, one who 
was elected as a Union candidate, and then basely 
betrayed his constituents, and afterward was re-elected 
as a Secessionist — this man, on the eve of the battle, 
having partaken freely of liquor, heard of the advance 
of our army, and, mounting his horse, rode hastily to 
the rebel camp, to inform them of the intended attack. 
He passed the outer pickets, but was halted by a full 
company of Georgians, who, hearing of the advance 
of our men, had been thrown out to reconnoiter. He, 
much frightened, supposing he was mistaken and was 
in the Union men's camp, begged them not to shoot, 
exclaiming, " / am a Union Tnan." Scarce had the 
lying words passed his lips when a dozen balls pierced 
his body. 

An announcement, made last night, that the rebels 
were advancing upon this post, put the boys in excel- 
lent humor. Every piece was put in order, and prepara- 
tions made for a warm reception of the rebel gentry. 
Extra pickets were sent out by Colonel Bosley, who 
has entire command of this post, Captain Wilmington 
being field-officer of the day. The guests, however, 
did not arrive, thus greatly disappointing the boys, 



A SEEENADE IN CAMP. IM 

wlio had a magnificent banquet in store for them. 
The bill of fare consisted of 

Bullet Soup — with Gunpowder Sauce; 

Bayonets — drawn from Scabbards; 

Minie Muskets — nicely ranged; 

Twelve Six-pound Dumplings — U. S. on the margin; 

2,600 Harper's Ferry Clickers; 

besides numerous little delicacies in the way of Colt's 
"Kevolving Pudding-hitters" and " Derangers,'' light- 
ning-powder, Bowies, slashers, etc. 

But as they refused the banquet, why, we will keep 
it, for the time being, ready for them in case of an 
intended surprise party. 

A serenade in camp is sweet music, indeed. Last 
night the Guthrie Serenading Club, consisting of E. P. 
Perkins, W. E. Sheridan, Charlie Foster, Captain Wil- 
mington, Zeke Tatem, W. Craven, and S. B. Pace, gave 
the denizens of this town and camp a taste of their 
quality. The hills resounded with sweet sounds. 
*» 

" Music soft, music sweet, lingers on the ear." 

Captain Pic Russell had an acquisition to his com- 
pany a few evenings since — in fact, a Secession emblem: 
a snake seven feet long — a regular "black sarpent" — 
quietly coiled himself in the Captain's blanket. He 
was, as soon as discovered, put to death. This region 
of country abounds in serpents, the rattlesnake being 
a prolific article. 

I must close, as the mail is about to start. 

Yours, Alf. 



80 INCIDENTS OF THE WAE. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

Fun in tHk 123d Ohio — A Tiieim.ino Incident of thk War — General Kelley— 
Vote Under Stkanoe Circumstances — Die, but Never Sukbender. 

Fun in the 123d Ohio. 

One of tlie boys furnislied me with a copy of his 
experiences of camp, entitled "Ye Chronicles of ye One 
Hundred and Twenty-third Hegirnent." 

1st. Man that is born of woman, and enlisteth as a 
soldier in the One Hundred and Twenty-third Ohio, is 
few of days and short of rations. 

2d. He coraeth forth at reveille, is present also at 
retreat, yea, even at tattoo, and retireth, apparently, at 
taps. 

3d. He draweth his rations from the commissary, 
and devoureth the same. He striketh his teeth against 
much hard tack, and is satisfied. He filleth his can- 
teen with apple-jack, and clappeth the mouth thereof 
upon the bung of a whisky-barrel, and after a little 
while goeth away, rejoicing in his strategy. 

4th. Much soldiering has made him sharp ; yea, even 
the seat of his breeches is in danger of being cut 
through. 

5th. He covenanteth with the credulous farmer for 
many turkeys and chickens; also, at the same time, 



FUN IN THE 123d OHIO. 81 

for mucTi milk and honey, to be paid for promptly at 
the end of each ten days ; and lo ! his regiment moveth 
on the ninth day to another post. 

6th. His tent is filled with potatoes, cabbage, tur- 
nips, krout, and other delicate morsels of a delicious 
taste, which abound not in the Commissary Depart- 
ment; 

7th. And many other things not in the " returns," 
and which never will return ; yet, of a truth, it must 
be said of the soldier of the One Hundred and Twenty- 
third, that he taketh nothing that he can not reach. 

8th. He fireth his Austrian rifle at midnight, and 
the whole camp is aroused and formed in line of battle, 
when lo ! his mess come bearing in a nice porker, which 
he solemnly deciareth so resembled a Secesh that he 
was compelled to pull trigger. 

9th. He giveth the provost-marshal much trouble, 
often capturing his guard, and possesseth himself of 
the city. 

10th. At such times "lager" and pretzels flow like 
milk and honey from his generous hand. He giv- 
eth without stint to his own comrades ; yea, and with- 
holdeth not from the One Hundred and Sixteenth 
Ohio Volunteer Infantry, or from the lean, lank, 
expectant Hoosier of the Eighty-seventh Indiana. 

11th. He stretcheth forth his hand to deliver his 
fellow-soldiers of the One Hundred and Sixteenth from 
the power of the enemy; yea, starteth at early dawn 
from Petersburg, even on a "double-quick" doth he go, 
and toileth on through much heat, suffering, privation, 
and much "vexation of spirit," until they are delivered. 
Verily I say unto you, after that he suffereth for want 



82 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

of tents and camp-kettles. Yea, on the liights of Moor- 
field his voice may be heard proclaiming loudly for 
" hard tack and coffee," yet he murmureth not. 

12th. But the grunt of a pig or the crowing of a 
cock awakeneth him from the soundest sleep, and he 
goeth forth until halted by the guard, when he instantly 
clappeth his hands upon his " bread-basket," and the 
guard, in commiseration, alloweth him to pass to the 
rear. 

13th. No sooner hath he passed the sentry's beat 
than he striketh a "bee-line" for the nearest hen-roost, 
and, seizing a pair of plump pullets, returneth, solilo- 
quizing: "The noise of a goose saved Rome; how much 
more the flesh of chickens preserveth the soldier! " 

14th. He even playeth at eucher with the parson, to 
see whether or not there shall be preaching in camp 
on the following Sabbath ; and by dexterously drawing 
from the bottom a Jack, goeth away rejoicing that the 
service is postponed. 

15th. And many other things doeth he; and lo! are 
they not recorded in the " morning reports " of Com- 
pany B ? Yea, verily. 

A Thrilling Incident of the War. 

Captain Theodore Rogers, son of the Rev. E. P. 
Rogers, of New York City, formerly of Albany, N. Y., 
enlisted in May, 1861. After a varied experience he 
returned home, and, on the 7th of January, 1862, was 
married, in Cazenovia, New York, to the adopted 
daughter of H. Ten Eyck, Esq., a young lady who, we 
may be allowed at least to say, was every way worthy 



A THRILLING INCIDENT. 83 

of the hand of the gallant soldier. The bridal days 
were passed in the camp, where a few weeks of hap- 
piness were afforded them. 

Six months roll away, and the battle at Gaines's Mills 
opens. Mr. Rogers, having left home as first lieu- 
tenant, was, on account of his superior qualities as a 
soldier and as a man, promoted to the office of cap- 
tain. His indefatigable efforts to discharge the duties 
of his position seriously impaired his health, and, pre- 
vious to the battle referred to, he was lying sick in his 
tent. But the booming of the enemy's cannon roused 
the spirit of the soldier, and he forgot himself in his 
desire to win a victory for his country. 

An account of the last scene is given by an officer 
in the rebel army, and, coming from such a source, its 
accuracy can not be questioned. Colonel McRae, while 
passing through Nassau, N. P., on his way to England, 
sought an introduction to a lady, who, he was informed, 
was from "Albany. Finding that she knew Dr. E.ogers 
and his family, she writes that his whole face lighted 
up, and he said : " 0, I am so glad ! I have been 
longing for months to see some one who knew the 
family of the brave young soldier who fell before my 
eyes." 

He then said : " It was just at evening on Friday, 
June 27, at the battle of Gaines's Mills, as your army 
was falling back, I was struck with the appearance of 
a young man, the captain of a company, who was 
rushing forward at the head of his men, encouraging 
them, and leading them on, perfectly regardless of his 
own life or safety. His gallantry and bravery attracted 
our notice, and I felt so sure that he must fall, and so 



84 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

regretted tlie sacrifice of his life, that I tried hard to 
take him prisoner. But all my efforts were vam; and 
when at last I saw him fall, I gave orders at once 
that he should be carried from the field. It was the 
last of the fight, and in a few moments General Gar- 
land (also of the Confederate army) and I went in 
search of him, and found him under the tree whither I 
had ordered him to be carried." 

Here the voice of the Colonel trembled so that he 
was hardly able to proceed. Recovering himself, he 
added : " I took from his pocket his watch, some money, 
and three letters — one from his wife, another from his 
father, and the third from his * mother. As General 
Garland (who has since been killed) and I read the let- 
ters, standing at the side of the youthful husband and 
son, we cried like children — tears of grief and regret 
for the brave and honored soldier, and at the thought 
of those who would mourn him at home." 

The Colonel said: "Tell his wife and father and 
mother that, though he was an enemy of whom we say 
it, he died the bravest and most gallant man that ever 
fell on the battle-field — encouraging and leading his 
men on, going before them to set the example. Tell 
them, also, that we saw him laid tenderly in his grave, 
(by himself,) and that, when this hateful war is over, 
I can take his wife to the very spot where her hus- 
band lies." 

Colonel McE-ae was very anxious to know whether 
the letters and watch had beeri' received by his wife, as 
he said that he gave them into the hands of Colonel 

T , of the 23d Regiment, who had promised to 

send them by a flag of truce. 



SHOOTING GENERAL KELLEY. 85 

From all that could be gathered, the lamented youth 
never spoke a word after receiving his death-wound. 

While in the Army of Virginia I obtained the fol- 
lowing facts in regard to the shooting of Colonel (now 
General) Kelley. A Staunton (Virginia) paper con- 
tained the following boastful article : 

"Colonel Kelley, the commandant of a portion of 
Lincoln's forces at Philippa, was shot by Archey Mc- 
Clintic, of the Bath Cavalry, Captain Kichards. Leroy 
and Foxall Dangerfield, (brothers,) and Archey McClin- 
tic, soldiers of the Bath Cavalry, were at the bridge, 
when a horse belonging to their company dashed 
through the bridge without its rider, whereupon these 
soldiers attempted to cross the bridge for the purpose 
of seeing what had been the fate of the owner of the 
riderless horse, when they were met by a portion of 
the enemy, led on by Colonel Kelley. As they met, 
Archey McClintic shot Colonel Kelley with a pistol. 
Seeing that they would be overcome by the number 
of the enemy, this gallant trio wheeled and retreated 
through the bridge. As they were retreating, they 

heard the enemy exclaim, ' Shoot the d d rascal on 

the white horse ! ' meaning McClintic, who had shot 
Colonel Kelley. They fired, and broke the leg of Le- 
roy P. Dangerfield. As McClintic was able to unhorse 
the colonel of a regiment with an old pistol, we hope 
that no soldier will disdain to use the old-fashioned 
pistol. They are as good as any, if in the proper 
hands." 

From the same paper I cut the following: 

"We have been informed that the gallant men who 
were under the command of Captain J. B. Moomau, ia 



86 INCIDENTS OF THE "WAR. 

the precipitate retreat from Philippa, positively refused, 
after going a mile or two, to retreat any further. They 
were told that, if they would not retreat any further, 
they had better send a flag of truce to the enemy 
and surrender. It was proposed to decide the matter 
by a vote, when the men unanimously voted that they 
would rather die than surrender. The word ' surren- 
der ' does not belong to the vocabulary of the brave 
men of our mountains. They are as heroic as Spar- 
tans. They are willing to die, if needs be ; but surren- 
der, never! Though the enemy were constantly firing 
Minie muskets at them, they were not at all alarmed, 
and, being true republicans, they were resolved to take 
the vote of the men before they would agree to send a 
flag of truce, or think for a moment of surrendering. 
Who ever heard of a vote being taken under such cir- 
cumstances ? They were flying before the superior and 
overwhelming force of the enemy, yet they were suf- 
ficiently calm and self-composed to get through with 
the republican formality of taking the vote of the 
company. The men then under the command of Cap- 
tain Moomau, of Pendleton, were his own company and 
some fifty belonging to the company of Captain Hull, 
of Highland, who had become separated from the other 
portion of their own company. Such soldiers will 
never be conquered — they may be killed, but they will 
never surrender." 

A few days afterward these " never-surrender " Spar- 
tan chaps were brought into camp, the most hang-dog 
lookina: set of villains I ever met. 



OUR HOSPITALS. 87 



CHAPTER IX. 

Ouii Hospitals — No Hope — A Shoet and Sijiple Story — A Soldier's Pride — 
The Last Letter — Soldierly Sympathy — The Hospitals at Gallatin, and 
THEIR Ministering Angels. 

Our Hospitals. 

I HAVE visited many of the hospitals, both on the 
field and those located in cities where every conven- 
ience obtainable for money was profuse. Those in 
Nashville, Gallatin, and Louisville were, at all times, 
in the most perfect order. Still, in the field, and often 
in cities, cut off as Nashville and Murfreesboro some- 
times are, the men suffer from the want of many little 
things. Miss Louisa Allcott, of Boston, who has 
been kindly administering to the wants of the sick and 
wounded in the hospitals, says: 

One evening I found a lately-emptied bed occupied 
by a large, fair man, with a fine face, and the serenest 
eyes I ever met. One of the earlier comers had often 
spoken of a friend who had remained behind, that those 
apparently worse wounded than himself might reach a 
shelter first. It seemed a David and Jonathan sort of 
friendship. The man fretted for his mate, and was 
never tired of praising John, his courage, sobriety, 
self-denial, and unfailing kindliness of heart — always 



88 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

winding up with — " He 's an out-and-out fine feller, 
ma'am; you see if he aint." I had some curiosity 
to behold this piece of excellence, and, when he came, 
watched him for a night or two before I made friends 
with him; for, to tell the truth, I was afraid of the 
stately-looking man, whose bed had to be lengthened 
to accommodate his commanding stature — who seldom 
spoke, uttered no complaint, asked no sympathy, but 
tranquilly observed all that went on about him ; and, 
as he lay high upon his pillows, no picture of dying 
statesman or warrior was ever fuller of real dignity 
than this Virginia blacksmith. 

No Hope. 

A most attractive face he had, framed in brown hair 
and beard, comely-featured and full of vigor, as yet 
unsubdued by pain, thoughtful, and often beautifully 
mild, while watching the afflictions of others, as if en- 
tirely forgetful of his own. His mouth was firm and 
grave, with plenty of will and courage in its lines, but 
a smile could make it as sweet as any woman's ; and 
his eyes were child's ey*, looking one fairly in the 
face, with a clear, straightforward glance, which prom- 
ised well for such as placed their faith in him. He 
seemed to cling to life as if it were rich in duties and 
delights, and he had learned the secret of content. 
The only time I saw his composure disturbed was when 
my surgeon brought another to examine John, who 
scrutinized their faces with an anxious look, asking of 
the elder: "Do you think I shall pull through, sir?" 
" I hope so, my man." And, as the two passed on, 



NO HOPE. 89 

John's eyes followed tliem with an intentness which 
would have won a clearer answer from them had they 
seen it. A momentary shadow flitted over his face; 
then came the smile of serenity, as if, in that brief 
eclipse, he had acknowledged the existence of some 
hard futurity, and, asking nothing, yet hoping all 
things, left the issue in God's hand, with that submis- 
sion which is true piety. 

At night, as I went my rounds with the surgeon, I 
happened to ask which man in the room probably suf- 
fered the most, and, to my great surprise, he glanced 
at John. 

"Every breath he draws is like a stab; for the ball 
pierced the left lung, broke a rib, and did no end of 
damage here and there; so the poor lad can find nei- 
ther forgetfulness nor ease, because he must lie on his 
w^ounded back or suffocate. It will be a hard struggle, 
and a long one, for he possesses great vitality; but 
even his temperate life can't save him. I wish it 
could." 

"You don't mean he must die. Doctor?" 

"Bless you, there is not the slightest hope for him, 
and you 'd better tell him so before long — women have 
a way of doing such things comfortably ; so I leave it 
to you. He won't last more than a day or two at 
furthest." 

I could have sat down on the spot and cried heartily, 
if I had not learned the propriety of bottling up one's 
tears for leisure moments. Such an end seemed very 
hard for such a man, when half a dozen worn-out, 
worthless bodies round him were gathering up the rem- 
nants of wasted lives, to linger on for years, perhaps 



90 INCIDENTS OF THE WAE. 

burdens to others, daily reproaches to themselves. The 
army needed men like John, earnest, brave, and faith- 
ful, fighting for liberty and justice, with both heart and 
hand — a true soldier of the Lord, I could not give him 
up so soon, or think with any patience of so excellent 
a nature robbed of its fulfillment, and blundered into 
eternity by the rashness or stupidity of those at whose 
hands so many lives may be required. It was an easy 

thing for Dr. P to say, " Tell him he must die," 

but a cruelly hard thing to do, and by no means as 
" comfortable " as he politely suggested. I had not the 
heart to do it then, and privately indulged the hope that 
some change for the better might take place, in spite of 
gloomy prophesies, so rendering my task unnecessary. 

A Short and Simple Story. 

After that night, an hour of each evening that re- 
mained to him was devoted to his ease or pleasure. He 
could not talk much, for breath was precious, and he 
spoke in whispers; but from occasional conversations I 
gleaned scraps of private history, which only added to 
the affection and respect I felt for him. Once he asked 
me to write a letter, and, as I settled with pen and 
paper, I said, with an irrepressible glimmer of female 
curiosity, "Shall it be addressed to mother or wife, 
John?" 

" Neither, ma'am : I 've got no wife, and will write 
to mother, myself, when I get better. Did you think 
I was married because of this ? " he asked, touching a 
plain gold ring he wore, and often turned thoughtfully 
on his finger when he lay alone. 



A soldier's peide. 91 

" Partly that, but more from a settled sort of look 
you have — a look young men seldom get until they 
marry." 

" I do n't know that ; but I 'm not so very young, 
ma'am — thirty in May, and have been what you might 
call settled these ten years, for mother 's a widow. 
I 'm the oldest child she has, and it would n't do for me 
to marry till Lizzie has a home of her own^ and Laurie 
has learned his trade; for we're not rich, and I must 
be father to the children, and husband to the dear old 
woman, if I can." 

" No doubt you are both, John ; yet how came you to 
go to the war, if you felt so ? Was n't enlisting as bad 
as marrying? " 

"No, ma'am, not as I see it; for one is helping my 
neighbor, the other pleasing myself. I went because I 
could n't help it. I did n't want the glory or the pay ; 
I wanted the right thing done, and the people said the 
men who were in earnest ought to fight. I was in earn- 
est, the Lord knows ; but I held off as long as I could, 
not knowing what was my duty. Mother saw the case, 
gave me her ring to keep me steady, and said ' Go ; ' so 
I went." 

A short story, and a simple one; but the man and the 
mother were portrayed better than pages of fine writing 
could have done it. 

A Soldier's Pride. 

" Do you ever regret that you came, when you lie 
here suffering so much? " 

" Never, ma'am. I have n't helped a great deal, but 



92 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

I 've shown I was willing to give my life, and perliaps 
I 've got to; but I do n't blame any body, and if it was 
to do over again, I 'd do it, I 'm a little sorry I was n't 
wounded in front. It looks cowardly to be hit in the 
back ; but I obeyed orders, and it do n't matter much in 
the end, I know." 

Poor John ! it did not matter now, except that a shot 
in front might have spared the long agony in store for 
him. He seemed to read the thought that troubled me, 
as he spoke so hopefully when there was no hope, for he 
suddenly added : 

" This is my first battle — do they think it 's going to 
be my last?" 

'' I 'm afraid they do, John." 

It was the hardest question I had ever been called 
upon to answer ; doubly hard with those clear eyes fixed 
upon mine, forcing a truthful answer by their own truth. 
He seemed a little startled at first, pondered over the 
fateful fact a moment, then shook his head, with a glance 
at the broad chest and muscular limbs stretched out 
before him. 

'' I 'm not afraid ; but it is difiicult to believe all at 
once. I 'm so strong, it does not seem possible for such 
a little wound to kill me." 

The Last Letter. 

" Shall I write to your mother now?" I asked, think- 
ing that these sudden tidings might change all plans 
and purposes ; but they did not : for the man received 
the order of the Divine Commander to march with the 
same unquestioning obedience with which the soldier 



THE LAST LETTER. 93 

had received tliat of the human one, doubtless remem- 
bering that the first led him to life, the last to death. 

"No, ma'am — to Laurie, just the same; he'll break 
it to her best, and I '11 add a line to her, myself, when 
you get done." 

So I wrote the letter, which he dictated, finding it 
better than any I had sent, for, though here and there 
a little ungrammatical or inelegant, each sentence came 
to me briefly worded, but most expressive, full of excel- 
lent counsel to the boy, tenderly bequeathing " mother 
and Lizzie" to his care, and bidding him good-by in 
words the sadder for their simplicity. He added a few 
lines, with steady hand, and, as I sealed it, said, with a 
patient sort of sigh, " I hope the answer will come in 
time for me to see it." Then, turning away his face, 
he laid the flowers against his lips, as if to hide some 
quiver of emotion at the thought of such a sudden sun- 
.dering of all the dear home ties. 

Those things had happened two days before. Now 
John was dying, and the letter had not come. I had 
been summoned to many death-beds in my life, but to 
none that made my he^rt ache as it did then, since my 
mother called me to watch the departure of a spirit akin 
to this, in its gentleness and patient strength. As I 
went in, John stretched out both his hands. 

"I knew you'd come! I guess I'm moving on, 
ma'am." 

He was, and so rapidly that, even while he spoke, over 
his face I saw the gray vail falling that no human hand 
can lift. I'sat down by him, wiped the drops from his 
forehead, stirred the air about him with the slow wave 
of a fan, and waited to help him die. He stood in sore 



94 INCIDENTS OF THE WAE. 

need of help, and I could do so little ; for, as the doctor 
Lad foretold, the strong body rebelled against death, 
and fought every inch of the way, forcing him to draw 
each breath with a spasm, and clench his hands with an 
imploring look, as if he asked, " How long must I 
endure this, and be still?" For hours he suffered, 
without a moment's respite or a moment's murmuring. 
His limbs grew cold, his face damp, his lips white, and 
again and again he tore the covering off his breast, as 
if the lightest weight added to his agony ; yet, through 
it all, his eyes never lost their perfect serenity, and the 
man's soul seemed to sit therein, undaunted by the ills 
that vexed his flesh. 

Soldierly Sympathy. 

One by one the men awoke, and "round the room ap- 
peared a circle of pale faces and watchful eyes, full of 
awe and pity ; for, though a stranger, John was beloved, 
by all. Each man there had wondered at his patience, 
respected his piety, admired his fortitude, and- now 
lamented his hard death ; for the influence of an up- 
right nature had made itself deeply felt, even in one 
little week. Presently, the Jonathan who so loved this 
comely David came creeping from his bed for a last 
look and word. The kind soul was full of trouble, as 
the choke in his voice, the grasp of his hand betrayed ; 
but there were no tears, and the farewell of the friends 
was the more touching for its brevity. 

" Old boy, how are you ? " faltered the one. 

" Most through, thank heaven ! " wliispered the 
other. 

"Can I say or do any thing for you, anywheres?" 



SOLDIERLY SYMPATHY. 95 

" Take my things home, and tell them that I did my 
best." 

"1 will! I will!" 

" Good-by, Ned." 

" Good-by, John ; good-by ! " 

They kissed each other tenderly as women, and so 
parted ; for poor Ned could not stay to see his comrade 
die. For a little while there was no sound in the room 
but the drip of water from a pump or two, and John's 
distressful gasps, as he slowly breathed his life away. 
I thought him nearly gone, and had laid down the 
fan, believing its help no longer needed, when suddenly 
he rose up in his bed, and cried out, with a bitter cry, 
that broke the silence, sharply startling every one with 
its agonized appeal, " For God's sake, give me air! " 

It was the only cry pain or death had wrung from 
him, the only boon he had asked, and none of us could 
grant it, for all the airs that blow were useless now. 
Dan flung up the window; the first red streak of dawn 
was warming the gray east, a herald of the coming 
sun. John saw it, and, with the love of light which 
lingers in us to the end, seemed to read in it a sign of 
hope, of help, for over his whole face broke that myste- 
rious expression, brighter than any smile, which often 
comes to eyes that look their last. He laid himself 
down gently, and stretching out his strong right arm, 
as if to grasp and bring the blessed air to his lips in 
fuller flow, lapsed into a merciful unconsciousness, which 
assured us that for him suffering was forever past. 

As we stood looking at him, the ward-master handed 
me a letter, saying it had been forgotten the night be- 
fore. It was John's letter, come just an hour too lata 



yb INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

to gladden tlie eyes that had looked and longed for it so 
eagerly — yet he had it ; for after I had cut some brown 
locks for his mother, and taken off the ring to send her, 
tilling how well the talisman had done its work, I kissed 
this good son for her sake, and laid the letter in his 
hand, still folded as when I drew my own away. 

On my visit to the hospital at Gallatin, I was called 
to the bedside of a dying boy, who belonged in Colum- 
bus, Ohio. There I met Dr. W. P. Eltsun, Dr. Arm- 
ington, Dr. Landis, and other surgeons, all working 
faithfully for the suffering men ; but Death had marked 
this boy for his own. I took his almost pulseless hand 
in mine, wiped the cold sweat from his brow, and, as I 
did so, he murmured, in a soft tone — a tone of sweet 
sadness — and with a half vacant stare, " Mother, is that 
you ? 0, how long I 've waited for your coming ! Tell 
sister I 'm better now. Good-by, Charlie. Halt ! who 
goes there?" and then a sudden start seemed to bring 
him to a realization of his situation, and he quietly 
gazed at me for a moment, called me by name, and said, 
" Alf, will you write a letter for me to-morrow? " This 
I promised, should he be able to dictate to me what I 
should write. In a few minutes he again called the 
sweet name of "Mother ! Mother ! " and with the words 
"good-by" upon his lips, and a smile of joy beaming on 
his face, he fell into that sleep that knows no waking. 

There were three ministering angels, who had left all 
the luxuries of a home, attending in this hospital. They 
had volunteered as nurses, and had come from Indian- 
apolis, to render all the aid they could to our country's 
noble defenders. Indiana should remember the names 
of Miss Bates, Miss Cathcart, and Mrs. Ketchum. 



the ensign-bearer. 97 

The Ensign-Bearer. 

WRITTEN EXPRESSIY FOR MR. ALF BURNETT, BY MISS CORA M. EAGER. 

Never mind me, Uncle Jared, never mind my bleeding breast ; 
The}' are charging in the valley, and you 're needed with the rest; 
All the day through, from its dawning till you saw your kinsman fall, 
You have answered fresh and fearless to our brave commander's call, 
And I would not rob my country of your gallant aid to-night, 
Though your presence and your pity stay my spirit in its flight. 

All along that quivering column, see the death-steeds trampling down 

Men whose deeds this day are worthy of a kingdom and a crown. 

Prithee, hasten. Uncle Jared — what's the bullet in my breast 

To that murderous storm of fire, raining tortures on the rest? 

See, the bayonets flash and falter — look 1 the foe begins to win 1 

See, see our faltering comrades 1 God I how the ranks are closing in I 

Hark I there 'a muttering in the distance, and a thundering in the air, 

Like the snorting of a lion just emerging from his lair; 

There 's a cloud of something yonder, fast uurolling like a scroll j 

Quick, quick I if it be succor that can save the cause a soul 1 

Look ! a thousand thirsty bayonets are flashing down the vale. 

And a thousand hungry riders dashing onward like a gale. 

Raise me higher. Uncle Jared; place the ensign in my hand ; 

I am strong enough to wave it, while you cheer that flying band. 

Louder 1 louder ! shout for Freedom, with prolonged and vigorous breath ; 

Shout for Liberty, and Union, and — the victory over death I 

See I they catch the stirring numbers, and they swell them to the breeze, 

Cap, and plume, and starry banner, waving proudly through the trees. 

Mark 1 our fainting comrades rally — mark I that drooping column rise; 
I can almost see the fire newly kindled in their eyes. 
Fresh for conflict, nerved to conquer, see them charging on the foe, 
Face to face, with deadly meaning, shot and shell and trusty blow; 
See the thinned ranks wildly breaking ; see them scatter toward the sun I 
I can die now, Uncle Jared, for the glorious day is won. 

But there 's something, something pressing with a numbness on my 

heart, 
And my lips, with mortal dumbness, fail the bur-^-in to impart. 

9 



98 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

O, I tell you, Uncle Jared, there is something, back of all, 
That a soldier can not part with when he heeds his country's call. 
Ask the mother what, in dying, sends the j'earning spirit back 
Over life's broken marches, where she 's pointed out the track? 

Ask the dear ones gathered nightly round the shining household hearth^ 
"What to them is brighter, better than the choicest things of earth? 
Ask that dearer one, whose loving, like a ceaseless vestal flame, 
Sets my very soul a-glowing at the mention of her name ; 
Ask her why the loved, in dying, feels her spirit linked with his 
In a union death but strengthens ? she will tell you what it is. 

And there's something. Uncle Jared, you may tell her, if you will, 

That the precious flag she gave me I have kept unsullied still; 

And — this touch of pride forgive me — where Death sought our gallant 

host. 
Where our stricken lines were weakest, there it ever waved the mostj 
Bear it back, and tell her, fondly, brighter, purer, steadier far, 
'Mid the crimson strife of battle, shone my life's unsetting star I 

But, forbear, dear Uncle Jared, when there 's something more to tell, 

And her lips, with rapid blanching, bid you answer how I fell ; 

Teach your tongue the trick of slighting, though 't is faithful to the rest, 

Lest it say her brother's bullet is the bullet in my breast. 

But, if it must be that she learn it, despite your tender care, 

'Twill soothe her bleeding heart to know my bayonet pricked the air. 

Life is ebbing. Uncle Jared ; my enlistment endeth here; 
Death, the conqueror, has drafted — I can no more volunteer. 
But I hear the roll-call yonder, and I go with vi^illing feet 
Through the shadows to the valley where victorious armies meet. 
Raise the ensign. Uncle Jared — let its dear folds o'er me fall ; 
Strength and Union for my country, and God's banner over all. 



SPORTS IN CAMP. 99 



CHAPTER X. 

Spoets in Camp — Anecdote of the 63d Ohio and Colonel Speague — Soldiee's 
Deeam of Home — The Wife's Keply. 

Army of the Cumberland, "» 
Camp near Triune, Tenn., May 12, 1863. / 

There are, at all times, sunny sides as well as the 
dark and melancholy picture, in camp life. Men whose 
business is that of slaughter — men trained to slay and 
kill, will, amid the greatest destruction of life, become 
oblivious to all surrounding scenes of death and car- 
nage. 

I have seen men seated amid hundreds of slain, qui- 
etly enjoying a game of "seven-up," or having a little 
draw. Yet let them once return to their homes, and 
enjoy the society and influence of the gentler sex, and 
they will soon forget the excitement and vices of camp, 
and return to the more useful and ennobling enjoyments 
of life. 

Yesterday a lively time, generally, was had in camp. 
After the drilling of the division, a grand cock-fight 
occurred on the hill. Some of the boys, who are regu- 
lar game-fanciers, brought some splendid chickens, and, 
as a consequence, a good deal of money changed hands. 
The birds fought nobly : three were killed, one of them 



100 INCIDENTS OF THE WAE. 

killing his opponent the first round, and instantly crow- 
ing, much to the amusement of the Sports. This fight- 
ing with gaifs is not a cruel sport, as one or the other is 
soon killed. 

Snakes are not so prevalent in these parts as they 
were when we first came: then it was not uncommon 
to find a nice little "garter" quietly ensconced in one's 
pocket, or in your pantaloon leg, or taking a nap in one 
corner of your tent. 

A prize-fight occurred in the division a few days ago. 
A couple of sons of Ethiopia, regular young bucks, feel- 
ing their dignity insulted by various epithets hurled at 
each other, from loud-mouthing adjourned to fight it 
out in the woods — a big crowd following to enjoy the 
fun. A ring was soon formed, and at it they went, 
a la Sayers and Heenan. Umpires were improvised for 
the occasion, and time-keepers, etc., chosen. 

The first clash was a butter and a rebutter, their heads 
coming together, fairly making the ivool fly. This was 
round first. 

Round 2d. — 35th Ohio darkey came boldly to the 
scratch ; as he only weighed sixty-five pounds more 
than his opponent, and with the slight diff'erence of one 
foot six inches higher, he pitched in most valiantly, and 
received a splendid hit on the sconce, which made him 
feel as if a flea bit him. After full ten minutes skirm- 
ishing, during which time neither struck the other, 
both retired to the further corner of the ring, until 
time was called. 

Round 2>d. — Minnesota Ethiopian, who had been 
weakening in the pulse for some time, came up shaky, 
and was received with laughter by his opponent; but 



BALL IN CAMP. 101 

the little fellow hit out splendidly, and launched an eye- 
shutter at the stalwart form of the 35th darkey. First 
blood claimed for .the 2d Minnesota. 

Round 4:th was, per agreement, a rough and tum- 
ble affair, as the spectators were growing impatient; 
and such "wool-carding" was never before exhibited. 
Both fought plucky ; but the 2d Minnesota having but 
just recovered from a sick of fitness, as he said, was 
about being overpowered, when the officer of the day 
interfered; and thus ended the dispute for the time. 
Betters drew their money, as the fight was a draw. 

Ball in Camp. 

Last night we had a fancy-dress ball, a reeherchS 
affair, a fine dancing-floor having been laid down in 
Company I's ground. A first-rate cotillion band was 
engaged, and played up lively airs. Your correspond- 
ent had a special invitation to be present, and enjoyed 
the party amazingly. 

The belles of the evening were Miss Allers, the Widow 
Place, Miss Stewart, Miss Austin, and Miss Dodge, all 
of Minnesota. 

Miss Dodge wore an elegant wreath of red clover, 
mingled with beech-leaves, and was dressed in red and 
white — the red being part of a shirt, kindly furnished 
by one of the friends of the lady; the white was ex- 
pressly manufactured by the Widow Place, dressmaker 
and milliner for this regiment. 

Miss Stewart is a beautiful creature, of a bronzed hue, 
from excessive exposure to the sun. She also wore a 
wreath of young clover, mingled with bunches of wheat. 



102 INCIDENTS OF THE WAPw 

Miss Allers was rather undignified in her actions ; her 
dress we thought too short at the bottom, and too 
high in the neck ; however, Miss A. was dressed in 
Union colors, having an American flag for an apron, and 
Hue and red dress, with a neat-fitting vjaste — of mate- 
rials. 

But the one in whom we felt the deepest interest 
was the AVidow. She had all the grace and elegance 
of a hippopotamus, and her style was enchanting. She 
wore a low-necked dress, with a bouquet of cauliflow- 
ers and garlick in her bosom, a wreath of onion-greens 
in her hair, full, red dress, and elaborate hoops, which 
continually said, " Don't come a-nigh me." Her bash- 
ful behavior was the talk of the evening, and the gay 
Widow and your correspondent, when upon the floor, 
were the cynosure of all eyes. The dance contin- 
ued until the Colonel ordered a double tattoo sounded, 
so that we could hear it. Several intruders were put 
out, for conduct unbecoming gentlemen. The ball was 
strictly private, as no commissioned officers were allowed 
to participate. 

However, the officers were truly amused at the fun, 
and, as women have, ere this, been dressed in mens 
clothes, there is no reason the boot shouldn't, this 
time, be on the other leg. 

Miss Austin's dance of the Schottische, with double- 
soled military boots, was excellent. Miss Austin be- 
longs in Louisville, and has long been known as a 
female auctioneer. 

The 9th Ohio band has arrived, and the boys are 
delighted. This is a new band, all Cincinnati musicians, 
and they are truly welcome to the camp. 



THE soldier's DREAM OF HOME. 103 

Boys want to hear from home as often as possible. 
It will be well for the girls to bear this in mind, and 
write often. Letters of love, we may say, alphabetic- 
ally speaking, are X T Z to those who get them. 

Anecdote of the 63d Ohio and Colonel Sprague. 

The 63d boys love Colonel Sprague ; they are not 
exactly afraid of him, but many a one would rather 
be whipped, any day, than take a reprimand from him. 
For instance : several nights ago one of the men, insti- 
gated by the love of good eating, and not having the 
fear of God before his eyes, attempted to pinch, as they 
say in the 63d, a can of fruit at the sutler's tent. But, 
unluckily for him, the sutler saw him, sprang out of 
bed, caught him by the collar and took him prisoner. 
As soon as the sutler got hold of him he began to ad- 
dress him in language more forcible than polite. " You 
d — d thief, I '11 pay you for this ; I '11 take you before 
the Colonel, and, if I had my boots on, I'd take it out 
in kicking you." 

" I'll tell you what," said the soldier, " I'll wait here till 
you put your boots on, and you may kick me as much as 
you please, if you won't take me before the Colonel." 

The following exquisite poem was handed me by 
Colonel Durbin Ward, of the 17th Ohio. I wish I 
knew the author. They are beautiful lines: 

The Soldier's Dream of Home. 

You have put the children to bed, Alice — 

Maud and AVillie and Rose; 
They have lisped their sweet " Our Father," 

And sunk lo their night's repose. 



104 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

Did they think of rae, dear Alice? 

Did they thinli of me, and say, 
" God bless him, and God bless him, 

Dear father, far away?" 

0, my very heart grows sick, Alice, 

I long so to behold 
Rose, with her pnre white forehead. 

And Maud, with her curls of gold; 
And Willie, so gay and sprightly, 

So merry and full of glee — 
0, my heart yearns to enfold ye, 

My smiling group of three. 

I can bear the noisy day, Alice — 

The camp life, gay and wild. 
Shuts from my yearning bosom 

The thoughts of wife and child; 
But when the night is round me. 

And under its starry beams 
I gather my cloak about me. 

And dream such long, sad dreams! 

I think of a pale young wife, Alice, 

Who looked up in my face 
When the drum beat at CYcniug 

And called me to my place. 
I think of three sweet birdlings, 

Left in the dear home-nest. 
And my soul is sick with longings, 

That will not be at rest. 

0, when will the war be over, Alice? 

0, when shall I behold 
Rose, with her pure white forehead, 

And Maud, with her curls of gold; 
And Will, so gay and sprightly. 

So merry and full of glee. 
And more than all, the dear wife 

Who bore my babes to me? 



THE wife's reply. 105 

God guard and keep you all, Alice; 

God guard and keep me, too, 
For if only one were missing, 

What would the others do? 
0, when will the war be over, 

And when shall I behold 
Those whom I love so dearly, 

Safe in the dear home-fold? 



The Wife's Reply. 

DEDICATED TO THE AUTHOR OF " THE SOLDIER'S DREAM OF HOME.' 

You say you dream of us, Willie, 

When fall the shades of night. 
And you wrap your cloak around you 

By the camp-fire's flickering light; 
And you wonder if our little ones 

Have bowed their curly heads. 
And asked a blessing for you. 

Before they sought their beds! 

It was but this very night, Willie, 

That our Willie came to me,- 
And looking up into my face, 

As he stood beside my knee, 
He said, " Mamma, I wonder 

When will this war be o'er, 
For 0, I long so much to see 

My dear papa once more." 

My heart was' full of tears, Willie, 

But I kept them from my eyes. 
And the answer that I made him 

Opened his with sad surprise — 
"Suppose he should never come, Willie 1" 

"But, mamma, I know he will, 
For I pray to Jesus every night 

To spare my father stiU." 



106 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

I claeped him in my arms, AVillie, 

I pressed him to my breast; 
His childish faith it shamed me, 

And my spirit's vague unrest; 
And I felt that our Heavenly Father, 

From his throne in the " City of Gold," 
Would watch you and guard you and bring you 

Safe back to the dear home-fold. 

We think of you every night, Willie; 

We think of you every day; 
Our every prayer wafts to Heaven the name 

Of one who is far away. 
And Rose, with her pure white forehead, 

And Maud, with her curls of gold. 
Are talking in whispers together. 

Of the time when they shall behold 

The father they love so dearly; 

And Willie, with childish glee, 
Is bidding me "not to forget to tell 

Papa to remember me." 
So we think of you every night, Willie 

By the camp-fire's fitful gleams, 
Until the war shall be over, 

Let us mingle still in your dreams. 

A. L. Y. 



THE ATROCITIES OF SLAVERY. 107 



CHAPTEE XI. 

The Atrocities of Slavery— The Beauties op the Peculiar Institution— A 
FEW Well-substantiated Facts— Visit to Gallatin, Tennessee. 

The Atrocities of Slavery. 

A LATE number of the Atlantic MontJily gives the 
following in relation to General Butler and his admin- 
istration in Louisiana: 

Among the many personal anecdotes are the follow- 
ing, which are almost too horrible to be published, but 
for the impressive lesson they convey. One of the 
incidents was related more briefly by the General him- 
self, when in New York, in January last. We quote 
from the writer in the Atlantic. 

Just previous to the arrival of General Banks at 
New Orleans, I was appointed Deputy Provost-Marshal 
of the city, and held the office for some days after he 
had assumed command. One day, during the last week 
of our stay in the South, a young woman of about 
twenty years called upon me to complain that her 
landlord had ordered her out of her house, because 
she was unable longer to pay the rent, and she wished 
me to authorize her to take possession of one of her 
father's houses that had been confiscated, he being a 



108 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

wealthy rebel, then in the Confederacy, and actively 
engaged in the rebellion. 

The girl was a perfect blonde in complexion; her 
hair was of a very pretty light shade of brown, and 
perfectly straight; her eyes a clear, honest gray; and 
her skin as delicate and fair as a child's. Her man- 
ner was modest and ingenuous, and her language indi- 
cated much intelligence. 

Considering these circumstances, I think I was justi- 
fied in wheeling around in my chair, and indulging in 
an unequivocal stare of incredulous amazement, when, 
in the course of conversation, she dropped a remark 
about having been born a slave. 

" Do you mean to tell me," said I, " that you have 
negro blood in your veins ? " And I was conscious of 
a feeling of embarrassment at asking a question so 
apparently preposterous. 

" Yes," she replied, and then related the history of 
her life, which I shall repeat as briefly as possible : 

"My father," she commenced, "is Mr. Cox, formerly 
a judge of one of the courts in this city. He was very 
rich, and owned a great many houses here. There is 
one of them over there," she remarked, naively, point- 
ing to a handsome residence opposite my office in Canal 
Street. " My mother was one of his slaves. "When I 
was sufficiently grown, he placed me at school, at the 
Mechanics' Institute Seminary, on Broadway, New 
York. I remained there until I was about fifteen 
years of age, when Mr, Cox came on to New York 
and took me from the school to a hotel, where he 
obliged me to live with him as his mistress ; and to-day, 
at the age of twenty-one, I am the mother of a boy 



THE ATROCITIES OF SLAVERY. 109 

five years old, who is my father's son. After remain- 
ing some time in New York, he took me to Cincinnati 
and other cities at the North, in all of which I con- 
tinued to live with him as before. During this sojourn 
in the Free States I induced him to give me a deed 
of manumission ; but on our return to New Orleans 
he obtained it from me and destroyed it. At this time 
I tried to break off the unnatural connection, where- 
upon he caused me to be publicly whipped in the streets 
of the city, and then obliged me to marry a colored 
man; and now he has run off, leaving me without the 
least provision against want or actual starvation, and 
I ask you to give me one of his houses, that I may 
have a home for myself and three little children." 

Strange and improbable as this story appeared, I 
remembered, as it progressed, that I had heard it from 
Governor Shepley, who, as well as General Butler, had 
investigated it, and learned that it was not only true in 
every particular, but was perfectly familiar to the citi- 
zens of New Orleans, by whom Judge Cox had been 
elected to administer justice. 

The clerks of my office, most of whom were old resi- 
dents of the city, were well informed in the facts of 
the case, and attested the truth of the girl's story. 

I was exceedingly perplexed, and knew not what to 
do in the matter; but, after some thought, I answered 
her thus : 

" This department has changed rulers, and I know 
nothing of the policy of the new commander. If Gen- 
eral Butler were still in authority, I should not hesi- 
tate a moment to grant your request; for, even if I 
should commit an error of judgment, I am perfectly 



110 INCIDENTS OF THE WAE. 

certain he would overlook it, and applaud the humane 
impulse that prompted the act; but General Banks 
might be less indulgent, and make very serious trouble 
with me for taking a step he would perhaps regard as 
unwarrantable." 

I still hesitated, undecided how to act, when suddenly 
a happy thought struck me, and, turning to the girl, I 
added — 

"To-day is Thursday: next Tuesday I leave this city 
with General Butler for a land where, thank God ! such 
wrongs as yours can not exist; and, as General Banks 
is deeply engrossed in the immediate business at head- 
quarters, he will hardly hear of my action before the 
ship leaves — so I am going to give you the house." 

I am sure the kind-hearted reader will find no fault 
with me that I took particular pains to select one of 
the largest of her father's houses, (it contained forty 
rooms,) when she told me that she wanted to let the 
apartments as a means of support for herself and her 
children. 

My only regret in the case was that Mr. Cox had not 
been considerate enough to leave a carriage and a pair 
of bays on my hands, that I might have had the satis- 
faction of enabling his daughter to disport herself about 
the city in a style corresponding to her importance as a 
member of so respectable and wealthy a family. 

And this story, that I have just told, reminds me of 
another, similar in many respects. 

One Sunday morning, late last summer, as I came 
down-stairs to the breakfast-room, I was surprised to 
find a large number of persons assembled in the library. 
When I reached the door, a member of the stafi" took 



THE ATROCITIES OF SLAVERY. Ill 

me by the arm and drew me into the room toward a 
young and delicate mulatto girl, who was standing 
against the opposite wall, with the meek, patient 
bearing of her race, so expressive of the system of 
oppression to which they have been so long subjected. 
Drawing down the border of her dress, my conductor 
showed me a sight more revolting than I trust ever 
again to behold. The poor girl's back was flayed until 
the quivering flesh resembled a fresh beefsteak scorched 
on a gridiron. With a cold chill creeping through my 
veins, I turned away irom the sickening spectacle, and, 
for an explanation of the affair, scanned the various per- 
sons about the room. 

In the center of the group, at his writing-table, sat 
the General. His head rested on his hand, and he was 
evidently endeavoring to fix his attention upon the re- 
marks of a tall, swarthy-looking man who stood oppo- 
site, and who, I soon discovered, was the owner of the 
girl, and was attempting a defense of the foul outrage 
he had committed upon the unresisting and helpless 
person of his unfortunate victim, who stood smarting, 
but silent, under the dreadful pain inflicted by the 
brutal lash. 

By the side of the slaveholder stood our Adjutant- 
General, his face livid with almost irrepressible rage, 
and his fists tight-clenched, as if to violently restrain 
himself from visiting the guilty wretch with summary 
and retributive justice. Disposed about the room, in 
various attitudes, but all exhibiting in their counte- 
nances the same mingling of horror and indignation, 
were other members of the staff — while near the door 



112 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

stood three or four house-servants, who were witnesses 
in the case. 

To the charge of having administered the inhuman 
castigation, Landry (the owner of the girl) pleaded 
guilty, but urged, in extenuation, that the girl had 
dared to make an effort for that freedom which her 
instincts, drawn from the veins of her abuser, had 
taught her was the God- given right of all who pos- 
sess the germ of immortality, no matter what the color 
of the casket in which it is hidden. I say " drawn 
from the veins of her abuser," because she declared 
she was his daughter; and every one in the room, 
looking upon the man and woman confronting each 
other, confessed that the resemblance justified the 
assertion. 

After the conclusion of all the evidence in the case, 
the Greneral continued in the same position as before, 
and remained for some time apparently lost in abstrac- 
tion. I shall never forget the singular expression on 
his face. I had been accustomed to see him in a storm 
of passion at any instance of oppression or flagrant in- 
justice; but on this occasion he was too deeply affected 
to obtain relief in the usual way. His whole air was 
one of dejection, almost listlessness ; his indignation too 
intense, and his anger too stern, to find expression 
even in his countenance. 

Never have I seen that peculiar look but on three 
or four occasions similar to the one I am narrating, 
when I knew he was pondering upon the fatal curse 
that had cast its withering blight upon all around, 
until the manhood and humanity were crushed out of 



THE ATROCITIES OF SLAVERY. 113 

the people, and outrages such as the above were looked 
upon with complacency, and the perpetrators treated as 
respected and worthy citizens, and that he was real- 
izing the great truth, that, however man might en- 
deavor to guide this war to the advantage of a favorite 
idea or a sagacious policy, the Almighty was directing 
it surely and steadily for the purification of our coun- 
try from this greatest of national sins. 

But to returu to my story. After sitting in the 
mood which I have described at such length, the Gen- 
eral again turned to the prisoner, and said, in a quiet, 
subdued tone of voice — 

" Mr. Landry, I dare not trust myself to decide to- 
day what punishment would be meet for your offense, 
for I am in that state of mind that I fear I might 
exceed the strict demands of justice. I shall, therefore, 
place you under guard for the present, until I conclude 
upon your sentence." 

A few days after, a number of influential citizens 
having represented to the General that Mr. Landry 
was not only a " high-toned gentleman," but a person 
of unusual "amiability" of character, and was, conse- 
quently, entitled to no small degree of leniency, he 
answered that, in consideration of the prisoner's " high- 
toned" character, and especially of his "amiability," 
of which he had seen so remarkable a proof, he had 
determined to meet their views, and therefore ordered 
that Landry give a deed of manumission to the girl, 
and pay a fine of five hundred dollars, to be placed in 
the hands of a trustee for her benefit. 
10 



114 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

Beauties op the Peculiar Institution — A Few 
Well-substantiated Facts. • 

A Mr. P , deceased, of Gallatin, Tenn,, for years a 

slave-trader, had children both by his wife and her 
body-servant, a beautiful mulatto woman — thus mak- 
ing, generally, the additions to his family in duplicate. 
One of his illeo-itimate daughters — a beautiful, hazel- 
eyed mulatto girl — is now the waiting-maid of his 
widow. This bright mulatto girl is married to a slave 
belonging to a prominent member of Congress from 
Tennessee, and has a son, a particularly apt and intel- 
ligent boy, whom the rebel women used to send around 
the camps, head-quarters, and street corners, to obtain 
the latest news, and report the same to them. Although 
but eight years old, he was too shrewd to remain qui- 
etly a slave. When the daughter of a Federal officer 
opened a little school, to teach a few contrabands, he 
came, and learned very rapidly. But his intellectual 
growth was suddenly stopped by the interference of 
his ^raniimother, who followed him to the school one 
day, and dragged him from the room in a perfect rage, 
threatening to kill him if he ever dared enter a free- 
school again, at the same time declaring to him that 
"he was not President Lincoln yet." 

Another instance : The wealthy and prominent Colo- 
nel G , of Gallatin, Tenn., a very respectable and 

high-toned gentleman, who is reputed a kind-hearted 
and benevolent man, remarkably lenient toward his 
slaves, whose praise is in the mouths of our Northern 
soldiers for his kind hospitalities, finding that his slaves, 
in view of the coming difficulties, did not increase fast 



BEAUTIES OF THE PECULIAR INSTITUTION. 115 

enough for profit, called tliem all togetlier on the 1st 
of January, 1862, and said to them: "Now, wenches, 
mind, every one of you that aint ' big ' in three or 
four months, I intend to sell to the slave-trader." He 
afterward chuckled over it, adding that it "brought 
them to terms." Comment needless. 

In the fall of 1861, in Piketon, Ky., at the head- 
waters of the Big Sandy, were two families — one known 
as the Slone family, the other as the Johnson family. 
The slaves of the former were all liberated about sev- 
enteen years before, by a will, stipulating that they 
should remain with his wife and work the plantation 
while she lived. Mrs. Slone died about two years 
after her husband, and not only emancipated these 
slaves, according to the last will and testament of her 
deceased husband, but, as they had taken more care of 
the old lady in her declining years than her sons, she 
thought it but equitable and right to disinherit the 
sons and leave the remnant of a once large estate, 
reduced to $9,000, to the slaves. But the gloating 
avarice of her gambling sons, backed by a vile public 
sentiment, prompted these unnatural sons to attempt 
to break the wills of their father and mother. After 
litigating the case a-bout twelve years, and having been 
defeated in the highest courts in Kentucky, they went 
back and set up a claim of $2,000 against their father's 
estate, when these despoiled slaves had to deposit the 
last of their estate as security, having been for more 
than twelve years thus harassed and perplexed by vex- 
atious lawsuits. "When the Union army under General 
Nelson came into that country, and had that trum- 
peted battle at Ivy Mountain, and our troops reached 



116 IXCIDENTS OF THE WAE. 

Prestonburg, twenty-five miles from Piketon, these 
hunted and plundered ones concluded that now was 
the time for them to escape to the "promised land." 
They gathered together their little all, cut fifty or sixty 
saw-logs, made a raft, loaded their worldly goods on it, 
and floated down the river. When they reached Pres- 
tonburg, General Nelson had them arrested, cut their 
raft to pieces, and sent them back to Piketon. After- 
ward, when our troops, under the intrepid Garfield, 
moved up the river, and made their head-quarters at 
Piketon, these tormented and persecuted ones were 
told that now they might avail themselves of the Gov- 
ernment boats to go down the river and leave the 
land of their tormentors. 

The Johnson family slaves were liberated, at the 
death of their owner, by a will, the writer and execu- 
tor of which had run oif into the rebel army, carry- 
ing it with him, A distant relative of Mr. Johnson, a 
worthless, shiftless, ignorant fellow, moved upon the 
plantation, and claimed not only the property, but the 
slaves. When our troops were about leaving Piketon, 
the most intelligent of the Slone family asked of Cap- 
tain H , A. A. Q. M., the privilege of using a push- 
boat to transport the family down .the river. Consent 
was given them, and, the next morning, the tioo fami- 
lies gathered together, the old and young, men and 
women and children, numbering fifty-nine souls, and 

started down the river. Colonel C , commanding 

the post, had them arrested, and ordered them back. 
One of his own officers represented to him that these 
people had an order for the boat from General Garfield, 
and, becoming alarmed, he let them go upon their way. 



BEAUTIES OF THE PECULIAR INSTITUTION. 117 

Soon, however, the biped hounds were on their track, 
in hot pursuit. Two slaves, married into these fami- 
lies, had escaped and followed this boat-load. Al- 
though their villainous masters had fought in the rebel 
army, they were furnished with passes to pursue their 
fleeing slaves, under the protection of the United States 
arms. These pursuers, weary and exhausted, stopped 
at a slave-trader's above Paintsville, where a large bend 
in the river enabled them to gain several miles by a 
cross cut, took horses, and arrived at foot of Buffalo 
Shoals just as the boat-load of fifty-nine frightened 
souls were going over it. They at once leveled their 
rifles, and ordered the boat to lie-to, supposing their 
slaves were aboard. They did so, and occupied a small 
vacant hut on the bank of the river, awaiting a Gov- 
ernment boat that would be down on the following 
morning. Early the next morning, (Sunday,) two lewd 
fellows of the baser sort, pursuing them in a skiff, 
landed at the place of rendezvous, and were about to 
rush into the cabin, when the leader of the negroes 
stopped them, saying : 

"Porter and Eadcliff, you cant enter here; we have 
none of your slaves." 

But the boldest of these desperadoes, tiger-like, 
crouched on his hands and knees, and got in the rear 
of the cabin. Then, suddenly rushing upon the old 
man, said, "Damn you, I'll shoot you any way," and 
fired, the ball lodging in the abdomen. He continued 
to fire, indiscriminately, into the group of women and 
children, hitting one girl in the knee, and a younger 
child on the side of the head. Then these cowardly 
miscreants rushed away, but not until a ball from the 



118 INCIDENTS OP THE WAR. 

rifle of one of these freedmen took effect in the thigh 
of Puadcliff. These men seemed to love the negro so 
well that they were not willing to let even freedmen 
leave the State, if they have but the least taint of 
African blood in their veins; and now they stand as 
sentinels around the tottering bastile, lest some of the 
victims escape. 

Another instance : In Hospital No. 2, in Gallatin, 
there is now at work a girl eighteen years of age, of 
pure Anglo-Saxon blood. This girl's reputed mother 
says, that when her own child was born, it was taken 
away from her, and this white child put in its place. She 
is satisfied it was the illes-itimate child of her master's 
daughter, which she had hy her oion father. 

In September, 1862, at Stevenson, Alabama, in col- 
lecting contrabands to' work on the fortifications, we 
found a white man, sixty-three years old, who had all 
his life been compelled to herd with negroes. He had 
been forced to live with four different black women as 
his wives, by whom he had twenty-eight children. 
Colonel Straight, of the 51st Indiana Regiment, saw one 
of the old man's daughters, and said she was as white 
and had as beautiful blue eyes as any girl he ever saw 
in his own State. His was the same sad story — that 
he was an illegitimate son of his master's daughter, in 
Virginia; was taken to the slave-pen, where, with one 
hundred and twenty-seven others, he was raised for the 
market. We started him to Governor Morton, of In- 
diana, as a sjiecimen of the men made chattels, and 
for which the South was fighting. He was captured 
on his way North. This is wickedness, " naked, but 
not ashamed." 



BEAUTIES OF THE PECULIAR INSTITUTION". 119 

"We copy the following from tlie Montgomery (Ala- 
bama) Advertiser: 

One Hundred Dollars Reward — Or Fifty Dollars if arrested 
in the State, will be paid for the arrest and confinement in jail, so 
that I may get him, of my boy Lewis, who left home on Sunday, 
the 14th inst. Lewis is about five feet, seven inches high, liffht 
complexion, nearly white, spare made, well dressed, wore mustache 
and goatee, quick to reply when spoken to, has "traveled," and 
may attempt to pass for a white person; he may endeavor to get to 
Richmond, where his mother and family reside. 

William Foster. 

TusKEGEE, Ala., June 14, 1863. 

We suppose tliat this "nearly white" slave, who, it 
is suspected, will try to "pass for a white person," is 
William Foster's grandson, or perhaps his own off- 
spring, Foster, no doubt, thinks that the negro is 
indebted to slavery for his moral and religious training. 
We advise the conservative journals to copy the above 
advertisement, and comment indignantly on the prac- 
tice of amalgamation. The occasion will be a good 
one; and we assure them that the instances are as 
plenty as blackberries in Dixie. 

At Athens, Alabama, in the summer of 1862, when 
that noble, earnest, and efficient officer. General Turchin, 
was court-martialed because he hurt the rebels of that 
State, General G was invited to make his head- 
quarters at Dr. ISTicklin's, one of the largest slavehold- 
ers in that part of the State, a devoted member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, and really a highly culti- 
vated and courteous gentleman. One day he charged 
the General with being radical. The General said, 
*' No, I 'm only a Eepublican ; but I have a most rad- 



120 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

ical commissary on my staff." The next day the 
radical commissary was invited to the house by Mrs. 

N , who said she " wanted to see a Yankee who 

would not deny being an Abolitionist." While at din- 
ner the Doctor proposed to investigate the causes of 

our wide differences. Captain H remarked at the 

same time : 

"Would it not be better, while enjoying your hos- 
pitalities, to talk upon subjects of agreement?" 

"No," said the Doctor; "we arrive at truth only by 
comparing notes." 

"•Then," the Captain said, " I must be a freeman, and 
talk from my own platform." 

"Certainly," was the answer. 

"Then," said the Captain, "you are on trial. You 
must give a reason for the hope within you. We 
charge you with having commenced a wicked and cause- 
less war. And now give us your reasons for it." 

" Well, in the first place, the Abolitionists are fight- 
ing against the Bible, and against God. The Bible, 
an express revelation from Heaven, says, ' When these 
servants, or slaves, are to be procured of the heathen 
round about you, of them shall ye buy, and they shall 
be your possession forever.' That settles the question 
of moral right ; and in relation to the political ques- 
tion,, you were for excluding us from the territories, 
when they were manifestly ours equal with yours. We 
had the same right there with our property that you 
had. Equality of rights was the cardinal principle of 
our Government. In your political action you strike 
a blow at the very foundation of our Government — 
equality of rights." 



BEAUTIES OF THE PECULIAR INSTITUTION. 121 

To wliicli Captain H replied : " Though not much 

of a theologian, I have, nevertheless, looked into the 
Levitical law, and found a paragraph like the follow- 
ing : ' He that stealeth a man, or selleth him, or if he 
be found in his hands, shall surely be put to death.' 
Let us analyze this ' stealeth a m.an ' — the foreign slave- 
trader — 'and selleth him' — the American slave-seller, 
or, ' if he be found in his hands ' — the American slave- 
holder. If you will show me how any of these can 
escape punishment, then I will pursue the Biblical 
argument. In regard to the political question, the 
citizen of Ohio and the citizen of Alabama are treated 
just alike. A citizen of Ohio can take his household 
goods, merchandise, and cattle into the territories. A 
citizen from Alabama has the same right, but he can 
not take his slave; nor yet can a citizen of Ohio. 
Hence, they have equal rights." 

At the close of the discussion the Doctor said, that 
" his neighbors were greatly alarmed when the Union 
array came into the district, for fear the slaves would 
leave them ; but I said to my slaves, ' If you prefer to 
go away and leave me, do so : come and tell me ; do n't 
sneak away at night with your little bundle, but come 
right up and tell me, "We want to leave," and I will 
give you five dollars, and let you go, with this con- 
dition, that you never show your faces around my 
plantation.' " 

Captain H looked as though it were doubtful, 

but said nothing. About a week afterward, the Doctor 
said to the General — 

" I want you to take a ride with me over to the 
11 



122 INCIDENTS OF THE WAE. 

plantation. You Northern men do n't know liow well 
our slaves love us. Whenever I go to see them, they 
run out to meet me; inquire after my wife and chil- 
dren with as much interest as your children would 
inquire after you." 

The General said he "would be glad to avail himself 
of the opportunity to see the workings of their system," 
and started off with the Doctor. 

On the way down, the Doctor remarked that he "had 
another reason for wishing him to go down;" that 
" there were three cases of insubordination, and I want 
to show you my Tuiode of controlling slaves. When I 

told your Abolition commissary, Captain H , the 

other day, how I managed my boys, I saw he did not 
believe one word I said. Now I want you to see for 
yourself; then you can convince him." 

Arriving at the plantation, sure enough, the slaves 
came out, and made special inquiries about his wife and 
family. The General said that the saddest sight of all 
was, that all these women and children gave promise to 
increase the number of slaves — girls eleven years old 
were among these. 

The Doctor called up the culprits and addressed the 
principal offender. " Aleck," said he, " unless you sub- 
mit to the mild punishment of our plantation discipline, 
all order and discipline will be lost. You know my 
rule. I have told you before, whenever you are not 
satisfied, just say so, and I will let you go. What do 
you say, Aleck, Bob, and Dick?" 

Bowing very low, the darkeys said, "Well, den, massa, 
gib us de fibe dollars and we go." 



BEAUTIES OF THE PECULIAR INSTITUTION. 123 

He turned pale, and, being utterly dumfounded, after 
regaining himself, and not giving them the money, 
said, " Be off, then ! " He had too much of the South- 
ern chivalry to back out, and came away a wiser if not 
a better man, but said " nary word " about convincing 
the Abolition commissary. 



124 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 



CHAPTEK XII. 

General Sciiofield — Colonel Durbin Ward — Colonel Connell — Women in 
Bkeecues — Another Incident of the War — Negro Sermon. 

Triune, Tenn., April 29, 1863, 

The last letter I wrote you was from the Missouri 
army. I am so continually flying around that I have 
won the cognomen of " the kite." It is astonishing 
what a charm there is in camp life; boys that have 
been away but a short time feel a craving to once more 
resume their duties among their comrades. With me 
'tis a great pleasure to get back to the familiar faces 
of this splendid division. 

Our new commander, General Schofield, is fast win- 
ning the devotion of his troops ; his policy in Missouri 
meeting the cordial approbation of men and officers 
here. Leniency is played out ; nothing but the most 
extreme rigor of military law will bring these traitors 
to*a realization of the villainous stand they have taken. 
Nothing but the driving of every enemy from our lines, 
as we go, will bring the misguided citizen to his senses. 
The men and women, who have been allowed so many 
privileges, have all along been acting as spies. A few 
days since, a little boy, only eight years of age, was 
cauo'ht going; over to his "uncle Palmer's:" he said his 



GENERAL SCHOFIELD. 125 

mother wanted him to go over and get a chicken, as the 
" sogers " ate all theirs up, and his mother was sick. 
The picket was about to let the child pass, on such an 
errand as that, and being such a small specimen of 
humanity. The lieutenant of the guard questioned 
the child closely, but could not glean any information 
of importance. As the child started oflp, down the road, 
he again called him, and, upon searching, found in the 
heel of his little stocking, sewed in, a full description 
of the entire camp and fortifications. The boy knew 
nothing of this, but was merely an instrument in the 
hands of the parents. As a matter of course the house 
was immediately searched, but the whole mystery is 
solved in the fact that several of the Secesh dam-sells 
were quite favorites in camp. 

General Schofield is driving all known sympathizers 
beyond his lines, and permitting none but the undoubted 
Union men to remain. 

A few nights since, as I was about retiring beneath 
the umbrageous shade of a lovely maple, a voice from 
above shouted, "Is 'Alf here?" 

" Yes, sir," was the response. 

The voice emanated from the epigastrium of a huge 
fellow-wanderer in this wilderness, who was mounted 
upon a fiery steed. 

" You are sent for by the commanding ofiicers of the 
First Brigade, and I -have orders to take you there, 
peaceably, if I Ccin; forcibly, if I must." 

As our camp was just getting wrapped in the arms 
of "Murphy," and not wishing to disturb them in their 
slumber, I consented to go. It was about a mile, over 
hill, through woods and thicket, to their camp. I pre- 



126 IKCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

ferred walking; but the gentle persuader on the horse 
induced me to " double up," and, after various efforts, I 
succeeded in mounting. I told the driver I was a poor 
rider, and convinced him of it before long. As the horse 
objected to my being placed so far back on his haunch, 
and I could n't get forward, there naturally arose a dis- 
pute, which eventuated in the horse running off with 
both of us. After being duly deposited on the ground, 
the horse seemed delighted, and expressed his pleasure 
by kicking up his heels. After various vicissitudes, I 
was safely deposited at the head-quarters of the First 
Brigade, under the command of Colonel Connell. 

Upon the announcement that "Alf" had "arriv," I 
heard the stentorian lungs of Colonel Durbin Ward 
ask : " Dead or alive ? " 

With fear and trembling I entered the tent, and found 
Colonel Connell, with nearly all his officers. I think 
Byron says something about there being 

"A sound of revelry by night." 

Well, so there was. Byron can prove it by me. 0, 
shades of the " vine-clad hills of Bingen," but the 
" Isabella " was profuse ! I remember being kept busy 
for two hours telling yarns and riddles, and the next 
day was accused of borrowing a horse and leading him 
home. My medical adviser. Dr. Wright, of the 35th 
Ohio, kept with me until the roads forked, and then he 
deviated. 

Yesterday I paid a visit to the lamented Bob McCook's 
" Old Ninth " Eegiment. The men are in splendid con- 
dition — the pride of the division. They are noted as 
the most ingenious battalion in the Army of the Cum- 



SENTIMENTS OF THE SOLDIERS. 127 

berland. They have improvised a turning-shop, and 
manufacture chessmen, checkers, and every variety of 
specimens in that line. They have a flying-Dutchman, 
revolving swing, quoits, bag races, etc., while the 
lovers of horse-racing and cock-fighting can be duly 
amused every day in the week by members of the dif- 
ferent regiments, each tenacious of the fair fame of his 
favorite battalion. Last night a fine game-cock, belong- 
ing to the 2d Minnesota, whipped one owned by the 
35th Ohio, and, as a matter of course, the 2d Minne- 
sota are in high glee, "crowing" over their chicken. 

The 2d Minnesota, the 35th Ohio, and 9th Ohio Kegi- 
ments are wedded. Each will vie with the other for 
the laurels in case of a fight. We have here, close at 
hand, the 17th, 31st, and 34th Ohio, besides those 
already mentioned. Our force is adequate for all the 
rebels dare send against us. 

The voice of the boys is universally for the Union, 
against all traitors, whether those who openly meet 
them in the field, or the more dastardly coward that 
remains at home and backbites, and aids the enemy by 
words of comfort, and spreading dissensions in the rear. 

The soldiers are unanimous upon the war question. 
They want no milk-and-water policy, and all they ask 
is, that the friends at home will back them in the field. 
Let all, whether Democrat, Republican, Abolitionist, or 
Pro-slavery, unite upon the Union. Let us have the 
Government sustained, regardless of all else. People 
at home have no right to dictate to our leaders what 
policy they should pursue. They are presumed to 
know what is best. If slavery falls, why sympathize 
with the owners ? What claims have they upon your 



128 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

sympathies ? A strange change has come over the peo- 
ple since former years. One party accused the other, 
and all who were opposed to slavery, as having " nigger 
on the brain." Now it is reversed. The rebel sympa- 
thizer, the ultra pro-slavery man, is the individual who 
is now troubled with this complaint. 

Let us hope our whole people will be thoroughly 
united at the coming elections, and let their motto be : 
" We are unalterably opposed to the secession of one inch 
of the territory of the American Union." Then I, for 
one, and I know it is the universal feeling of this entire 
division, will not care if the man who comes in on that 
platform be Democrat, Whig, or Republican; he should 
have the support of all true lovers of his country. 

Women in Breeches. 

Whether the women in modern times have taken the 
cue from the poet's words, 

" Once more unto the breech, decar friends," 

and merely added the plural, making it " breeches," I 
know not; but the present war for the Union has 
elicited much enthusiasm among the gentler sex, caus- 
ing them, in many instances, to lay aside their accus- 
tomed garb, and assume the exterior of the sterner 
portion of creation ; in proof of which the following 
story of the war is given : 

A young woman arrived in Chicago from Louisville, 
Ky., whose history is thus related in the I^ost of that 
city: 

" She gave her name as Annie Lilly bridge, of Detroit, 



WOMEN IN BREECHES. 129 

and stated that her parents reside in Hamilton, Canada. 
Last spring she was employed in a dry-goods store in 
Detroit, where she became acquainted with a Lieuten- 
ant W , of one of the Michigan regiments, and an 

intimacy immediately sprang up between them. They 
corresponded for some time, and became much attached 
to each other. Some time during last summer, Lieu- 
tenant W was appointed to a position in the 21st 

Michigan Infantry, then rendezvousing in Ionia County. 
The thought of parting from the gay lieutenant nearly 
drove her mad, and she resolved to share his dangers 
and be near him. No sooner had she resolved upon 
this course than she proceeded to the act. Purchasing 
male attire, she visited Ionia, enlisted in Captain Kava- 
nagh's company, 21st Regiment. While in camp she 
managed to keep her secret from all; not even the ob- 
ject of her attachment, who met her every day, was 
aware of her presence so near him. 

" Annie left with her regiment for Kentucky, passed 
through all the dangers and temptations of a camp life, 
endured long marches, and sleeping on the cold ground, 
without a murmur. At last, the night before the bat- 
tle of Pea Eidge, (or Prairie Grove,) in which her regi- 
ment took part, her sex was discovered by a member 
of her company; but she enjoined secrecy upon him, 
after relating her previous history. On the following 
day she was under fire, and, from a letter she has in 
her possession, it appears she behaved with marked gal- 
lantry, and, with her own hand, shot a rebel captain, 

who was in the act of firing upon Lieutenant W . 

But the fear of revealing her sex continually haunted 
her. After the battle, she was sent out, with others, to 



130 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

collect the wounded, and one of the first corpses found 
by her was the soldier who had discovered her sex. 

"Days and weeks passed on, and she became a uni- 
versal favorite with the regiment, so much so that her 
Colonel (Stephens) frequently detailed her as regimental 
clerk, a position that brought her in close contact with 
her lover, who, at this time, was either major or adjutant 
of the regiment. A few weeks subsequently she was 
out on picket duty, when she received a shot in the 
arm that disabled her, and, notwithstanding the efibrts 
of the surgeon, her wound continually grew worse. She 
was sent to the hospital at Louisville, where she has 
been ever since, until a few weeks ago, when she was 
discharged by the post surgeon, as her arm was stiffened 
and rendered useless for life. She implored to be per- 
mitted to return to her regiment; but the surgeon was 
unyielding, and discharged her. Annie immediately 
hurried toward home, and, by the aid of benevolent 
strangers, reached this city. At Cincinnati she told 
her secret to a benevolent lady, and was supplied with 
female attire. She declares that she will enlist in her 
old regiment again, if there is a recruiting ofiicer for 
the 21st in Michigan. She still clings to the lieuten- 
ant, and says she must be near him if he falls or is 
taken down sick; that where he goes she will go; and 
when he dies, she will end her life by her own hand." 

Another Incident of the War. 

A few weeks since, a captain, accompanied by a young 
soldier, apparently about seventeen years of age, arrived 
in this city, in charge of some rebel prisoners. During 



ANOTHER INCIDENT OF THE WAR. 131 

their stay in the city, the young soldier alhided to had 
occasion to visit head-quarters, and at once attracted 
the attention of Colonel Mundy, as being exceedingly 
sprightly, and possessed of more than ordinary intelli- 
gence. Being in need of such a young man at Bar- 
racks No. 1, the Colonel detailed him for service in 
that institution. He soon won the esteem of his supe- 
rior of&cers, and became a general favorite with all con- 
nected with the barracks. A few days ago, however, 
the startling secret was disclosed that the supposed 
young man was a young lady, and the fact was estab- 
lished beyond doubt, by a soldier who was raised in the 
same town with her, and knew her parents. She " ac- 
knowledged the corn," and begged to be retained in 
the position to which she had been assigned; having 
been in the service ten months, she desired to serve 
during the war. Her wish was accordingly granted, 
and she is still at her post. 

We learned the facts above stated, and took occa- 
sion to visit the barracks, and was introduced to "Frank 
Martin," (her assumed name,) and gleaned the follow- 
ing incidents connected with her extraordinary career 
during the past ten months : 

Frank w|is born near Bristol, Penn., and her parents 
reside in Alleghany City, where she was raised. They 
are highly respectable people, and in very good circum- 
stances. She was sent to the convent in Wheeling, Va., 
at twelve years of age, where she remained until the 
breaking out of the war, having acquired a superior 
education, and all the accomplishments of modern days. 
She visited home after leaving the convent; and, after 
taking leave of her parents, proceeded to this city, in 



132 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

July last, with the design of enlisting in the 2d East 
Tennessee Cavalry, which she accomplished, and accom- 
panied the Army of the Cumberland to Nashville. She 
was in the thickest of the fight at Murfreesboro, and 
was severely wounded in the shoulder, but fought gal- 
lantly, and waded Stone River into Murfreesboro, on 
the memorable Sunday on which our forces were driven 
back. She had her wound dressed, and here her sex 
was disclosed, and General Rosecrans made acquainted 
with the fact. She was accordingly mustered out of 
service, notwithstanding her earnest entreaty to be 
allowed to serve the cause she loved so well. The 
General was very favorably impressed with her daring 
bravery, and superintended the arrangements for her 
safe transmission to her parents. She left the Army of 
the Cumberland, resolved to enlist again in the first regi- 
ment she met. 

Negeo Sermon delivered at Triune, Tenn. 

Camp near Tkiune, Tenn., May 16, 1863. 

Last Sunday week there was a grand revival meet- 
ing of the numerous contrabands, at the Brick Church, 
near the village. The house was crowded by the most 
fashionable black belles in the county, many of them 
dressed "a la viode." An old man arose, and stated 
that he had formerly been a circus preacher, and "done 
been ober de country from station to station, preachin' 
de gospel," and he now felt like " talkin' to de brudders 
and sistern." He commenced his discourse : 

"My Belubed Bredern — I haben't got no Bible. 
De rebels, when dey squatulated from dis place, done 



A NEGRO SERMON. 133 

toted dem all off wid 'em. Derefore, I am destrained 
to make a tex' myself, and ax you, 

'"Whar Do You Lib?' 

" Is your dwellin' in de tents of wickedness ? Now, 
my belubed bredern, de world am a whirlin' and a 
wbirlin', jest as it allers hes bin. Dish here world neb- 
ber Stan' still for de Yanks or for de rebs, but keeps 
on its course jest de same, and why should n't you do so 
likewise ? 

" If de Lord is a smilin' on us dark sheep ob de flock, 
and Fader Abraham has got his bosom ready for to de- 
ceib us, why should we not be preparred for de glory ob 
dat day ? 

" My tex' requires ob you, ' Whar do you lib f ' 

" Is you strollin' round, wid no hope of de future free- 
dom starrin' you in de face? Massa Linkuni has done 
tole you, dat if you work for de salvation ob de Union, 
dat you shall be saved, no matter what de Legislatur' 
ob Kaintuck may say to de reverse contrary dereof — 
dat is, if de Union be saved likewise; and Massa Lin- 
kum is de man what will stand up to de rack; so, dere- 
fore, I ax you, ' Wliar do you lib ? ' 

" De good book done tole you dat you can't serb two 
masters ; but dat is a passenger ob Scriptur' I nebber 
could understan' wid all my larnin', for de most ob us 
has been serbin' a heap o' masters durin' dis combobera- 
tion ob de white folks, wherein we colored gemmen is 
interested ; derefore I ask, agin and agin, de momentus 
question ob ' Whar do you lib ? ' 

" Now, my brudders, I is perfec'ly awar dat many ob 
you don't lib much, but dat you jest 'sassiate round;' 
you is n't de right stripe ; you do nt lib nowhar. 



134 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

" Wharfor is dis state ob society, after all de white 
folks am a doin for you ? 

" Look aroun' an' aroun' you, an' see de glorious names 
ob our colored bredern what is fitin' an a fitin' for you 
in de army. Dars Horace Greeley and Fred Douglass; 
dars Jack Mims and Wendal Phlips; dars Lennox Ea- 
mond and Lloyd Garrison. De last-mentioned colored 
pusson is a tic'lar friend ob mine, and is named after a 
place whar dey now is trainin' a lot ob our race. De 
Garrison was named after de garrison. 

" Den dars Mrs. Beechum Sto; look at dat lady ; is n't 
she going from de camp to de camp just like de Martin- 
gale — what de English people had in de las' war in Flor- 
ence; and don't dey call her de Florence Martingale ob 
dis hemisphere ? 

" Be ye also ready to answer de question as to ' Whar 
do you lib ? ' 

" So dat de glorification ob Uncle Abraham Linkura 
shall resound ober de earth, and we darkeys no longer 
hab to hoe de corn, but lib foreber on de fat ob de Ian'. 
Brudder Jerry will please pass aroun' de hat." 



LETTER FROM CHEAT MOUNTAIN. 135 



CHAPTEE XIII. 

Letter from Cheat Mountain— The Women of the South— Gilbert's Brigade. 

Letter from Cheat Mountain. 

Camp of 6th Ohio, at Elkwater, Va., 1861. 

The trees begin to look barren, the bronzed hue of 
the surrounding hills admonishing us that October, 
chill and drear, is upon us. Every thing in nature is 
cheerless, and, adding to nature, man has, with despoil- 
ing hands, laid waste the country for miles about our 
present location. Pen can not describe the devastation 
of an army : orchards are swept away ; of fences scarce 
a trace is left; houses are converted into stables, 
fodder-cribs, and store-houses ; corn-fields are used as 
pastures; forests must fall to supply our men with 
fire- wood; in fact, with the soldier nothing is sacred. 
And why should any thing be sacred in this "section," 
where traitors have been fostered, and where every vote 
cast was for secession? Let them reap the harvest 
they themselves have sown. 

The farmers come daily into camp, whining because 
our men cut down their sugar-trees, or "find" a few 
cabbages or apples ; but, as the Colonel is aware that 
the boys must be kept in fire-wood, he is heedless of 
their whimperings. 



136 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

The cold is telling fearfully upon the men at night, 
and I fear, if a supply of clothing is not soon forth- 
coming, much suffering will be the consequence. It 
is a burning disgrace to somebody, that such things 
should be, and it is galling to our regiment to see In- 
diana troops, just mustered into service, passing our 
encampment with large, heavy overcoats, and every 
thing about them denoting comfort and an attention 
to their wants. The cold frosts are beginning to leave 
their imprints; already snow is capping the mountain- 
tops, and God help us if we get winter-bound in this 
"neck of woods." Some few are glorying in the 
thought of the fine deer and bear hunts they will have. 
The. latter I can't hear to think about, and the former 
a man must be cZeranged to think of catching upon 
these mountains. 

The paymaster has been disbursing his funds for the 
past three days, and the boys are all in excellent 
spirits. Theodore Marsh and Leonard Swartz will go 
home heavily laden with the hard earnings of this 
regiment. How many hearts will be gladdened by the 
receipt of the little pittances sent, and how loth many 
will be to use the money when they remember the 
toil endured to obtain it! But let the friends rest 
assured that the money was not thought of. A purer, 
a more noble thought and higher aim animated the 
breasts of those who have so nobly suffered — a determ- 
ination to see their country's honor maintained. 

Our pickets have scoured the country around, far and 
near, but no signs of the enemy can be found. There 
is no doubt but that they have retired for the winter. 
There will, however, be plenty left to guard the inter- 



THE WOMEN OF THE SOUTH. 137 

ests of the Federal army until spring, when, no doubt, 
the campaign will be opened with vigor, if not sooner 
settled. 

In the reconnoissance by our regiment, a week since, 
traces of Captain Bense and his party were found in 
the Secession camp ; several of Hall & Cobb's (our 
sutlers) checks being found in their camp, and a pris- 
oner, afterward brought in, said they had been for- 
warded to Richmond, Va. 

A rumor that this regiment is to be immediately 
ordered to Cincinnati set the boys fairly dancing; but 
Madame Rumor is so frequent a visitor that the more 
sensible scarcely noticed her arrival. The most au- 
thentic rumor is, that Colonel Bosley is to be made a 
brigadier-general. " We shall see what we shall see." 

The sky is threatening, and dark as midnight, the 
air intensely cold, and we are hourly expecting a reg- 
ular old snow-storm. Chestnuts, fine and ripe, are 
abundant ; there are hundreds of bushels all over these 
hills, while wild grapes are as abundant as hops in 
Kent. 

Yesterday, a wild-cat was shot and brought into 
camp by one of the 3d Ohio boys. He was about 
three feet in length, and a "varmint" I shouldn't 
like to meet on a dark night. 

Yours, Alp. 

The "Women of the South. 

A great deal has been written about them, and there 

is no doubt but they are a thousandfold more bitter 

than the men. They were, and many are yet, perfectly 

venomous; and the more ignorant, the more spiteful 

12 



138 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

they seem. The following act was blazoned forth as 
wonderfully heroic in its character, just after our 
forces occupied Philippa, Beelington, and Beverly: 

"The two noble heroines, Misses Abbie Kerr and 
Mary McLeod, of Fairmont, Marion County, who rode 
from their home to Philippa, a distance of thirty-odd 
miles, to apprise our forces there of the approach of the 
enemy, arrived in Staunton by the western train, on 
Wednesday night last, and remained till Friday morn- 
ing, when they went to Richmond. While here they 
were the 'observed of all observers,' and were received 
with a cordial welcome. Great anxiety was naanifested 
by all to hear a detailed account of their interesting 
adventures from their own lips. 

" They left Fairmont at six o'clock on Sunday morning, 
and hastened, without escorts, to Philippa. They had 
not gone a great distance before they found that a shoe 
of one of the horses needed fixing. They stopped at a 
blacksmith's shop for that purpose, and while there a 
Union man came up and questioned them very closely 
as to who they were, and on what mission they were 
going. Miss McLeod replied to his interrogatories, 
telling him that their surname was Fleming, and that 
they were going to Barbour County, to see their rela- 
tions. Their interrogator seemed to be very hard to 
satisfy, and it taxed the ingenuity of Miss McLeod to 
improvise a story which would succeed in imposing 
upon him. As soon as the horse-shoe had been fixed, 
they again proceeded upon their way, but had not 
gone far before their evil genius, their interrogator at 
the blacksmith's shop, dashed by them on horseback. 
They perceived that his suspicions had not been allayed, 



THE WOMEN OF THE SOUTH. 139 

and that lie was going' on in advance of them to her- 
ald the approach of spies. They allowed him to pass 
out of sight, in advance, and then destroyed the letters 
they had in their possession, that the search of their 
persons, to which they then anticipated they would be 
required to submit, might not betray them. When they 
arrived at the village of Webster, they found it in com- 
motion, and many persons were anxiously awaiting their 
arrival, in the eager hope of capturing the spies. 

" They were there subjected to a rigorous cross-exam- 
ination. The heroines were calm and self-possessed — 
answering questions without hesitancy, and expressing 
a perfect willingness to have their persons searched 
by any lady who might be selected for that purpose. 
They were allowed to pass on, after being detained for 
some time, though there were some in the crowd who 
were very much opposed to it. As soon as they got 
out of sight of that village they rode very rapidly, 
for fear they might still be arrested by some of those 
who were so much opposed to allowing them to pro- 
ceed. They arrived at Philippa about two o'clock in the 
afternoon of the same day, and told Colonel Porterfield 
that the enemy would attack his camp that night or 
the next morning. 

" These ladies then went to the house of a Mr. Huff, 
about a mile and a half from Philippa, where they 
stayed all night. The next morning they heard the 
report of the firing at Philippa, and, in disguise, ac- 
companied by a countrywoman, returned to Philippa, 
on foot, to see what had been the result. They moved 
about among the enemy without being detected or mo- 
lested in the least degree. Going into one of the 



140 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

houses, they found James Witllers, of the Eockbridge 
Cavalry, who had concealed himself there to prevent 
the enemy from capturing him. These ladies imme- 
diately told him that they would effect his rescue, if 
he would trust to them. He very readily consented; 
whereupon these ladies disguised him as a common 
countryman, by furnishing him with some old clothes; 
they then gave him. a basket of soap, with a recipe for 
making it, that he might pass as a 'peddler of that 
necessary article. With these old clothes, and a basket 
of soap on his arm, and gallantly mounted upon a mule, 
accompanied by his guardian angels, he passed safely 
through the crowds of the enemy, and was brought by 
them, safe and sound, into the camp of his friends at 
Beverly, after a circuitous and hard ride over precipit- 
ous mountains, where persons had seldom, if ever, ridden 
before. His fellow-soldiers and friends rejoiced greatly 
when he arrived, for they thought that he was either 
killed or taken prisoner by the enemy; they rejoiced 
that the supposed 'dead was alive,' and the 'lost was 
found.' He is now known in our camp as the 'peddler 
of soap.' The heroic conduct of these ladies will live 
in history, and they will become the heroines of many 
a thrilling story of fiction, in years to come." 

"We have no doubt but that their names will live in 
history. Benedict Arnold is still in the memory of 
every American, loathed and despised, as Davis and 
his crew will eventually be, without doubt. 

Gilbert's Brigade. 

In May last, the 124th Ohio was near Franklin, 
Tenn., a part of General Granger's division, and be- 



gilbert's beigade, 141 

longing to Gilbert's brigade. Friend "Esperance," in 
writing about the regiment, says : " We are encamped 
near Franklin, in a beautiful situation as regards the 
view of the country; and in a military point of view 
it is excellent, being surrounded with sufficient eleva- 
tions of land' to enable our fortifications to sweep the 
whole country in every direction. The brigade is com- 
posed of the 113th, 124th, 125th, and the 121st Ohio 
Volunteers, and the 78th Illinois. The 124th Ohio 
was organized in Cleveland, but contains two compa- 
nies from Cincinnati — company G, under the command 
of William A. Powell, of your city, and company I, 
under the command of Captain J. H. Frost, also of 
Cincinnati. Captain Powell has been in the service 
ever since the commencement of the war; he has 
served in Virginia and Maryland, also in Missouri, in 
General Fremont's Body-guard. He was again in Ma- 
ryland last summer, at Cumberland, in command of a 
company in the 84th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and is, 
in all respects, strictly a military man, very generally 
liked by his company, and respected by his superior 
officers. Captain Frost has also been in the service 
before, and is much liked by his men, and esteemed by 
all who know him here. The health of thS regiment 
is good, and of the two companies from Cincinnati 
especially so. 

" With regard to the army of General Eosecrans, it 
is by us considered invincible. General Eosecrans is 
looked upon as a host in himself. Every soldier ap- 
pears anxious to meet the enemy ; the idea of a defeat 
never seems to enter into their imagination, but all are 
enthusiastic in their expectation of being able to restore 



142 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

the South and South-west of our common country to 
subjection to the Constitution, and obedience to the 
laws." 

A chaplain of an Indiana regiment recently married 
one of the Hoosier boys to a Tennessee girl, and con- 
cluded the ceremony by remarking, the oath was bind- 
ing for three years, or during the war! 



\ 



CONFESSIONS OF A FAT MAN. 143 



CHAPTER XIV. 

(TONFESSIONS OF A FAT MAN — HOME-GUAED — ThE NeGBO ON THE FeNCE — A CAMP 

Letter op Early Times — " Sweetharts " Against the War. 

Confessions of a Fat Man — Home-Guard. 

The moment the flag was threatened, large bodies of 
men were called upon to rally to its defense. Being 
large and able-bodied, I enrolled with the home-guard. 
The drill was very severe in hot weather, and I wanted 
an attendant, a fan, and pitcher of ice-water. 

I am constantly reminded that one of the first re- 
quirements of a soldier is to throw out his chest and 
draw in his stomach. Having been burned out several 
times, while occupying an attic, I have had consider- 
able practice in throwing out my chest; but by what 
system of practice could I ever hope to draw in my 
stomach ? I can't " dress up ; " it 's no use of my trying. 
If my vest buttons are in a line, I am far in the rear. 
If I toe the mark, a fearful bulge indicates my position. 
Once we had a new drill-sergeant, who was near-sighted. 
Running his eye along the line, he exclaimed sharply : 

" What is that man doing in the ranks with a base 
drum?" 

He pointed at me ; but I had n't any drum ; it was 



144 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

tlie surplus stomacli, that I could n't, for the life of me, 
draw in. I am the butt of numberless jokes, as you 
may well suppose. They have got a story in the 
Guards, that, when I first heard the command "order 
arms," I dropped my musket, and, taking out my note- 
book, began drawing an order on the Governor for 
what arms I needed. They say I ordered a Winans 
steam-gun, with a pair of Dahlgren howitzers for side 
arms ! Base fabrication ! My ambition never extended 
beyond a rifled cannon, and they know it ! 

Although, in respect to size, I belong to the " heav- 
ies," my preference is for the light infantry service. 
My knapsack is marked " Light Infantry ! " One 
evening the spectators seemed convulsed about some- 
thing, and my comrades tittered by platoons, whenever 
my back was turned. It was a mystery to me till I 
laid off my knapsack. Some wretch had erased the 
two final letters, and I had been parading, all the 
evening, labeled, "Light Infant!" 

The above is one of the thousand annoyances to which 
I am subjected, and nothing but my consuming patriot- 
ism could ever induce me to submit to it. I over- 
heard a spectator inquire of the drill-sergeant one day : 

"Do you drill that fat man all at once?" 

"No," he returned, in an awful whisper; "J drill 
him hy squads !" 

I could have drilled him, if I had had a bayonet. 

Specifications have been published in regard to my 
uniform, and contractors advertised for; the making 
will be let out to the lowest bidder. In case the 
Guards are ordered to take the field, a special commis- 
sary will be detailed to draw my rations. 



'\ 



CONFESSIONS OF A FAT MAN. 145 

That reminds me of a harrowing incident. On last 
night's drill an old farmer, who dropped in to see ua 
drill, took me aside, and said he wanted to sell me a 
yoke of powerful oxen. 

" My ancient agriculturist," said I, smiling at his 
simplicity, " I have no use for oxen." 

" Perhaps not at present," quoth he, " but if you go 
to war you will want them." 

"For what?" said I, considerably annoyed. 

" Want 'em to draw your rations ! " 

The Guards paid me a delicate compliment at their 
last meeting : elected me Child of the Regiment, with 
the rank of a First Corpulent. I was about to return 
thanks in a neat speech, when they told me it was no 
use ; that a reporter, who was present, had got the 
whole thing in type — speech and all — and I could read 
it in the evening paper. I got his views, and held 
my own. 

Yours for the Union, including the Stars, also the 
Stripes. Fat Contributoe. 

" What are you going to do, you bad woman's 
boy ? " said Mrs. Wiggles, as her youngest son passed 
through the kitchen into the garden. 

" Down with the Seceshers ! " he shouted ; and she 
looked out just in time to see the top of a rose-bush 
fall before the artillery-sword of her son, that the 
youngster held in his hand. 

" You had better go to Molasses Jugtion, if you 
want to do that," she said, restraining his hand as 
'twas lifted against a favorite fuschia, that she had 
trained with so much care. 
13 



14.6 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

"Dear me!" she murmured, half to herself; "what 
a terrible thing war is, when children show signs of 
such terrible consanguinity ! " 



The Negro on the Fence. 

" Hearken to what I now relate, 
And on its moral meditate." 

A WAGONER, with grist for mill, • 

Was stalled at bottom of a hill. 

A brawny negro passed that way, 

So stout he might a lion slay. 

"I'll put my shoulder to the wheels, 

If you '11 bestir j'our horse's heels." 

So said the African, and made 

As if to render timely aid. 

"No," cried the wagoner, "stand back! 

I '11 take no help from one that's black ; " 

And, to the negro's great surprise. 

Flourished his whip before his eyes. 

Our "darkey" quick "skedaddled" thence, 

And sat upon the wayside fence. 

Then went the wagoner to work, 

And lashed his horses to a jerk; 

But all his efforts were in vain; 

With shout, and oath, and whip, and rein, 

The wheels budged not a single inch, 

And tighter grew the wagoner's pinch. 

Directly there came by a child, 

With toiling step, and vision wild, 

"Father," said she, with hunger dread, 

"We famish for the want of bread." 

Then spake the negro: "If you will, 

I '11 help your horses to the mill." 

The wagoner, in grievous plight. 

Now swore and raved with all his might, 

Because the negro wasn't white; 



A CAMP LETTER OF EARLY TIMES. 147 

And plainly ordered him to go 

To a certain place, that's down below; 

Then, rushing, came the wagoner's wife, 

To save her own and infant's life; 

By robbers was their homestead sacked. 

And smoke and blood their pillage tracked. 

Here stops our tale. When last observed, 
The wagoner was still "conserved" 
In mud, at bottom of the hill, 
But bent on getting to the mill; 
And hard by, not a rod from thence, 
The negro sat upon the fence. 

A Camp Letter of Early Times. 

Our camp is alive; our camp is exuberant; our camp 
is in a furore. " Who 's that man with ' Secesh ' 
clothes ? " says one ; and " Who 's that big-faced, genial, 
good-natured looking feller ? " says another. "Are they 
prisoners?" "Maybe it's the paymaster; and that 
short, chunky man is here to watch the other feller, 
and see that the money is paid all on the square." 
" No, it aint one nor t' other — 't is Cons Millar, the 
ever-vigilant and hard-working Cons, of the Commer- 
cial; and the good-natured looking feller is Invisible 
Green, or, as he is familiarly called. Bill Crippen, of the 
Times." They have brought sunshine into camp, for a 
merrier set of soldiers the sun never shone on than 
are the Guthrie Grays to-night. Cons has just had 
supper, and Bill is " spreading devastation " over the 
table of Captain Andrews. They have both been up 
inspecting intrenchments, which are in statu quo, the 
brave Lee having retreated some sixteen miles, or, 
more politely speaking, "fallen back." So I suppose 



148 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

we will soon have to creep up on tlie gallant gentle- 
man once more, and see if he can not be induced to 
fall still further back. 

The news of the gallant conduct of our Cincinnati 
boys at the late fight under Eosecrans sent a thrill of 
pleasure to the hearts of all our men, and a feeling of 
envy that we were not with them to share the glory of 
that day. Colonel Lytle, Stephen McGroarty, and the 
other brave fellows' names, are on the lips of all, and a 
fervent " God bless them " is frequently uttered. Our 
encampment now may be said to extend over four- 
miles, a brigade of twelve thousand; and I can assure 
you they make a formidable appearance. Three splen- 
did batteries, three or four fine cavalry companies, and 
any quantity of men, are yet on the way. 

One of the best Secesh tricks I have heard of was 
attempted, a short time since, by a rebel telegrapher. 
When Lee was about to advance upon this point, wish- 
ing to ascertain the number of troops here, he sent out 
this operator, with pocket implements, to attach to our 
wires. So, carefully picking his way through the woods, 
Mr. Operator came upon a secluded part of the road; 
climbing the pole, he attached his battery, and "click, 
click, click," he inquires of our operator at head-quar- 
ters, " How many troops have you altogether, that can, 
at any pressing event, be sent to aid us if we attack 
Lee?" Just as he concluded the query, one of the 
ever-vigilant pickets of the Indiana regiments, who in- 
fest the woods and roads in every direction, espied" the 
gentleman, and brought him into camp with his non- 
confiscated horse. A minute more and the fellow, 
doubtless, would have been fully informed, as he had 



A CAMP LETTER OF EARLY TIMES. 149 

guarded against cipher-telegraphing by telegraphing 
that the cipher-operator was out, and the general 
wanted an immediate answer. 

Our boys continue to scour the woods, and constantly 
are finding Secesh documents. The following beautiful 
pome is from the pen of Miss M. H. Cantrell, of Jones- 
boro, Tennessee, and was found in the pocket of a 
" Secesher," who had invaliantly fled, dropping his 
overcoat and love-epistles. It is entitled : 

SWEETHARTS AgAINST "WaR. 

dear! its shameful I declare 

To make the men all go 
And leive so manny sweetharts here 

Wit out a single bough. 

We like to see them leave 'tis true, 

And wold not urge them stay; 
But what are we poor girls to do 

When you are all away? 

We told you we cold spare you' here 

Before you had to go, 
But Bless your Harts, wernt aware 

That we would miss you sow. 

We miss you all in manny ways, 

But troth will ware out; 
The gratest things we miss you for 

Joy going withe out. 

On Sunday when we go to chui'ch, 

We look in vane for sum 
To mete us smilin on the porch, 

And ask to see us home. 



150 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

And then -we dont enjoy a walk 

Since all the bows have gone; 
For what the good to us plain talk 

If we must trip alone? 

But what the use talkin thus 

We will try to beecontent 
And if you cannot come to us 

A message may bee cent. 

And that one comfort any way 

Although we are Apart, 
There is no reason why we may 

Not open hart to hart. 

We trust it may not ever come 

To any War like test, 
We want to see our Southern homo 

Secured in peaceful rest. 

But if the blood of those we love 

In freedoms cause must floo. 
With fervent trust in Lov Above 
We bid them onward go. 

Written By your frend, 

M. H. Canteell, 

I inclose you the original document. I suppose the 
aforesaid lovyer did "onward go," and, no doubt, is still 
going, if he has not already reached the town of Jones- 
boro, and met his gal upon " the porch " as she returned 
from church. 

Snake-hunting has given way to trout-fishing. As 
a matter of course, the noise of camp has driven all 
trout four miles from our present abode; but scarcely 
a day passes but our men return with a nice string 
of these delicious denizens of the brooks hereabouts. 

I have often, heretofore, thought I would like much 



A CAMP LETTER OF EARLY TIMES. 151 

to be a cavalry soldier, but I '11 swear I would n't like 
to be a cavalry horse; for, of all the hay- forsaken, 
fleshless-looking animals eyes ever gazed upon, the 
horses out here take the premium. Well, 'pon my 
word, I took Captain Bracken's horse (the roan I once 
rode) a quart of oats, sent from Beverly; well, the 
horse wouldn't eat them; he didn't know what they 
were! and I had to break or smash some of them 
so that he might smell the "aroma," to facilitate his 
knowledge, and he was too weak to inhale air enough 
to inflate his nostrils, so that he could smell the dainty 
meal I had in my kindness brought him. Captain 
Bracken promised to have them parched and made 
into a tea for the animal. 

September 30. — What a jump of time ! Well, I '11 tell 
you the cause. The morning I intended to post this 
letter the entire regiment was ordered to make an ad- 
vance upon Mingo Flats, a Secession hole fifteen miles 
from this place. They were accompanied by Howe's bat- 
tery and an Indiana regiment. The boys were not more 
than fairly started when a terrific rain-storm set in. 
! what a pitiless, deluging rain ! The very thought 
of that sprinkle of twenty hours of unceasing torrent 
makes me, even now, feel as if I should forever have 
an antipathy against drinking water. Onward the boys 
trudged, seemingly not caring a cuss if school kept or 
not. The Elkwater soon assumed a rather formidable 
appearance; night came on, and with it an increase of 
the flood. We stood up against trees to rest; some 
crawled in fence-corners; a few, more lucky, found an 
old log stable and a smoke-house; these were quickly 
filled from " pit to dome," as Fred Hunt would say, 



152 INCIDENTS OF THE WAE. 

for some slept on rafters, cross-beams, etc. Still it 
poured down ; still the fountains of heaven gushed 
forth, fifth, tenth, or twentieth; anyhow, it continued 
to rain, and at daybreak it rained yet, and the regiment 
moved on to Mingo Flats ; drove in the rebel pickets ; 
heard the Secesh varmints beat the long roll ; knew 
they were scared; and still it rained! Colonel Sulli- 
van, of the Indiana regiment, was in command: sent 
out a big gun ; boys went on a big hill ; found tho 
enemy were eight or ten thousand strong ; big gun 
ordered back, and as we only had two thousand men, 
remembered the axiom about "discretion being the bet- 
ter part of valor;" obeyed the aforesaid axiom. Still, 
recollect,- it kept raining in torrents; dripping down 
Quarter-master Shoemaker's pants into his boots ; run- 
ning over Colonel Anderson's back. Major Christo- 
pher looked dry, in order to get a drink : but that was 
a failure. Captain Westcott looked sad; in fact he 
said it was the wettest time he ever knew or heard 
tell of — wondered if old Noah ever explored these big 
hills. 

Captain Russell picked out a fine hill to locate upon, 
if this really intended to be another deluge. Captain 
Clark observed he was fond of heavy ivet. Jules Mon- 
tagnier said it was due time to dry up. Still it rained. 
The regiments were ordered to fall back. Well, the 
mud was so infernal slippery it was very easily done ; 
some fell forward in the vain endeavor to fall back. 
After killing seven or eight poor, pauper-looking, "Se- 
cesh varmints," the boys set fire to Marshall's store, 
the enterprising proprietor being away from his busi- 
ness — a very notorious Secessionist, having donated 



A CAMP LETTER OF EARLY TIMES. 153 

$25,000 to the C. S. A. The building made a beauti- 
ful fire, and our boys brought away a fine lot of saws, 
augers, and various other articles of dry goods. The 
loss of the augers, Colonel Anderson says, will be a 
great bore to Marshall. Please do rit forget how infer- 
nal hard it was raining all this time. 

Well, they reached the first ford on their return trip ; 
a sad misnomer now, for it was an unfordable ford. 
The water of old Elkwater was rearing and plunging, 
and furiously wild. Every mountain (and there are 
myriads) was sending out its wet aid to swell the 
raging torrent ; the regiment, at this time, only three 
miles from the Secessionists. A bold front had to be 
put on, as it was a sure thing, if the rebels found out 
the weakness of our force, we were goners. There was 
no doubt, however, but that they were terribly fright- 
ened, as they had heard we were twenty thousand 
strong. Anxiously the boys waited the falling of the 
mighty waters. It had noio rained twenty-six hours. 
Large trees came whistling by with lightning speed ; 
the river seemed wild with delight, and the waves 
clapped their hands, leaping higher and higher; but, 
as you know, (no reflection meant,) Mr. Editor, a 
drunken man will get sober if not supplied with more 
liquor, so the river will subside if not furnished with 
the "aqueous fluid." 

Colonel Anderson was the first to cross the stream. 
His horse plunged in boldly, but was within an ace of 
being carried away by the still almost resistless current. 
There goes " Shoemaker," the easy, good-natured " Ned," 
as he is called. Yes, sure enough, there he does go, 
for his horse has plunged, and the torrent is too wild, 



154 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

for they are both beyond their depth, and the horse is 
going down, down. Every eye is bent upon " Shoe." 
He is carried further and further. He grasps a tree 
and pulls himself up, looking the picture of despair. 
The major says, "H-o-l-d, b-o-y-s! d-o-n't b-e i-n t-o-o 
m-u-c-h h-u-r-r-y ; " but they, eager to get back, walked 
a foot-bridge of rough timber and old logs, very narrow. 
Several crossed upon this. Captain Russell making a 
very narrow escape with his life. Colonel Anderson, 
perceiving the danger, ordered that no more should 
cross, threatening to shoot the first man who should 
disobey the order. This, as a matter of course, was 
done to deter the men from hazarding their lives need- 
lessly. Colonel Anderson had but just given the order, 
when Frank Guhra, a private in Captain Clark's com- 
pany, made the attempt, reached the middle of the 
stream, lost his balance, fell, and in a moment was 
whirled out of sight, the current running at the rate of 
twenty miles an hour. Several lost their guns. It was 
three or four hours before they succeeded in crossing. 

Upon their return to camp an unwelcome sight was 
presented; the water had swept nearly every thing 
away. The tents had been, many of them, three and 
four feet in water ; some had to take to trees to save 
life. The water had subsided, leaving a nasty slime, 
a foot thick, all over the camp-ground. Camp-kettles, 
knapsacks haversacks, and numerous floatable, light 
articles, had passed down stream — Captain Wilming- 
ton losing every thing. I saw the Captain trying to 
borrow a pair of pantaloons, he running around in his 
drawers. An old resident of this locality (Mr. Ston- 
nicker) says this is the biggest flood ever known in this 



A CAMP LETTER OP EARLY TIMES. 155 

region. By the by, Mr. Stonnicker has a beautiful 
daughter, Miss Delilah, who seems to be fairly "the 
child of the regiment," especially of the officers. I will 
not mention names, as the wives at home would be 
jealous. 

I see you talk of sending out a gentleman to take 
money home to the families of the volunteers. But cuss 
the paymaster, "or any other man." Why don't the 
paymaster come? Send me some papers. I can't get 
any without a peck of trouble. 



156 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 



CHAPTER XV. 



The 'Winteh Campaign in Virginia — Did n't Know of the Rebellion — Genebal 
W. H. Lttle — Drilling — A Black Nightingale's Sono. 



The Winter Campaign in Virginia. 

Your correspondent has been sick. Your corre- 
spondent has been in bed ; has had the rheumatism in 
his back, neck, arms, legs, toes ; is down with the 
mountain-fever ; tries in vain to sleep ; howling dog, 
belonging to Captain Russell's " brigade," keeps up 
such an infernal howling it makes me mad : wish Rus- 
sell had to eat him, hair and all. It was raining when 
I last wrote ; think we had just been flooded out. Well, 
the very next day we were again ordered over that God- 
forsaken road, when the clouds again blackened up, and 
five hundred men tramped it. What have the Sixth 
done that the heavens should open their floodgates ? All 
I wonder is, how the boys stand it. But they do bear 
up under it nobly, remembering the Shakspearian pas- 
sage, slightly altered : 

" The same clouds that lower upon the Louse of Abe Lincoln 
Look frowningly upon Jeff Davis." 

The boys are truly "ragged and sassy;" very many 
are shoeless, and with a flag of truce protruding from 



THE WINTER CAMPAIGN IN VIRGINIA. 157 

the rear. The service in these woods wears out more 
clothing than ordinary service should. Some of the 
boys are careless, but many are, helplessly, nearly naked. 
Our officers have used every exertion to get apparel, 
but the apparel is, like a paymaster, " hard to get hold 
of." Our men have been sorely tantalized by seeing 
regiment after regiment of the Indiana troops paid ojEF, 
before their very eyes. In fact, they have been running 
round camp, with five, ten, and twenty-dollar gold 
pieces, shaking them in our faces. Add Colwell — Cor- 
poral Add — paid an Indiana boy of the 17th Regiment 
three slices of bacon and half a pound of coffee just for 
the privilege of hefting and rubbing his eye with an 
eagle. Colwell is a good printer ; Colwell is a good 
writer ; and, last and best of all, he can eat more gin- 
gerbread than any other one man in the army : he 
wants Wash Armstrong to send him a box of the article. 

Since the accidental shooting of Lieutenant Moses 
Bidwell, by Adams, of the 17th Indiana, we have had 
another accident. Mr. Hopkins has had his collar-bone 
broken, and his shoulder-blade thrown completely out 
of place, by the falling of a tree. 

We are having jovial times out here, rain or shine. 
A convocation of good fellows met at Captain Abbott's 
quarters, 3d Ohio. Captain Abbott is from Zanesville. 
Captain McDougal of Newark, Captain Dana of Athens, 
Captain Rossman of Hamilton, Lieutenants House and 
Swasey of Columbus, Lieutenants Bell and Dale of New- 
ark, not forgetting Miles — the smiling, good-natured 
Miles — of the 17th Indiana, Quarter-master Shoemaker, 
Andy Hall, J. W. Slanker, W. B. Sheridan, and Self, 
all of the 6th Ohio, made up the party. The landlord 



158 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

filled his flowing bowl, and stories, songs, and recita- 
tions were the order of the evening, and the 

" Glow-worm ' began ' to show tlie matin to be near " 

ere we started to separate. 

Miles invited those who would, to go over to his pal- 
ace, and promised us a sardine supper ; accordingly, but 
few refused the invitation. Now, Miles had a jug of oil, 
just from the Thurston House, Paris, Bourbon County, 
Ky. This oil was put to good use; and soon a box of 
herring was opened, and the oil again distributed, and 
then some speeches were made. 

The meeting was called to order by the fat Quarter- 
master, Shoemaker. 

A motion was made that we adjourn and go to Cin- 
cinnati. This was voted down. Motions were continu- 
ally made to take a drink. These were carried, every 
pop, by Sherry, your correspondent being the only one 
having the moral courage to vote in the negative. 

Now, Miles is from Columbus ; a jolly, good fellow, 
and, when the time for retiring arrived, proffered me 
his bed, provided I would notice him in my next letter. 
This I promised, and accepted his hospitality. The 
party dispersed, and Miles was soon in the arms of Mor- 
pheus; be had fallen asleep making an eloquent appeal 
to the chair. I had just got into a nice doze, when I 
was aroused by the sound of a voice. 

" Gen'l'men, you 're all my frens, every one of you. 
But, genTmen, I invite you, freely, to my sardines. 
You, 'specially, Ned Shoemaker; 'specially you, Andy 
Hall, and all of you. 

" The country is a momentous question," 



I)idn't know of the rebellion. 159 

Here I ventured to inquire of him as to whom he 
was addressing his conversation? 

" Why, my frens," replied he. " Is n't that Ned 
Shoemaker ? " pointing to a barrel, upon the top of 
which was my hat; "and are not those my compan- 
ions," pointing to a pile of cheese-boxes, herring-kegs, 
etc., that were strewn around. 

He was much astonished when I assured him his 
friends had depccrted an hour since, at least. 

Didn't Know of the Eebellion. 

Going out with a party of scouts, one day, in Vir- 
ginia, we espied, away up a little ravine, a log-house, 
completely isolated. Anticipating a good, substantial 
meal, we rode up to the domicile, where an old woman, 
with a face with all the intelligence of a pig beaming 
from it, came to the door, looking the very picture of 
consternation. We dismounted, and asked for some- 
thing to eat. 

" What ! wittles ? " exclaimed the horrible-looking 
creature. "Whar did you come from? And what be 
sogers doin' on here ? " 

"Well, I came from Indianapolis," said Captain 
Bracken, " and am after something to eat. Are there 
any Secesh in these parts?" 
"Any what?" 
"Secesh." 

"Why, gracious, what's them?" 
"Are you and your folks for the Union?" 
"Why, sartain; thar's the old man neow." 
Just at this moment there came a gaunt-eyed, slim- 



160 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

livered, carnivorous, yellow-skinned, mountain Virgin- 
ian — no doubt belonging to one of the first families, as 
his name was Rhett. 

"Look-a-hear," continued the old woman; "this ere 
soger wants to know if you be for Union ? " 

The old man looked, if any thing, more astonished 
than the old woman at the soldier. In the course of 
conversation we asked the man, " What he thought of 
the war?" 

"What war?" exclaimed the old fellow; "the Eevo- 
lution ? " 

" Yes. The rebellion, we call it." 

" Ah ! we gin the Britishers fits, did n't we ? " 

It was evident the man knew nothing of the rebel- 
lion going on. 

When asked if he heard the fight, the other day, 
only six miles from his house, he opened his eyes widely, 
and said he " heard it ' thunderin ' mighty loud, but 
could n't see no clouds, and did n't know what to make 
on it." 

The fact was, these people live up in this place; 
raise what little will keep them from year to year; 
never read a paper, ('cause why, they can't); and they 
scarcely ever visit anybody. 

There are many cases of this kind within a few miles 
of this place, where as much pent-up ignorance is dis- 
played. If North Carolina is any worse, in Heaven's 
name send no more money to distant heathen, but at- 
tend to those at home. 



general william h. lytle. 161 

General William H. Lytle, 

Of whom our city Las cause to be justly proud, has 
won for himself a name, engraven on the scroll of 
honor, as one of our country's heroes. A brief men- 
tion of his military career may be summed up as 
follows : 

He was, during the Mexican campaign, on General 
Scott's line, and, although but a mere youth, he com- 
manded an independent company of volunteer infantry, 
from Cincinnati, that was afterward attached to the 
2d Ohio, on Scott's line, and commanded by Colonel 
"William Irwin, of Lancaster, Ohio. They were sta- 
tioned most of the time at the " Kio Frio," keeping open 
the line of communication between the cities of Puebla 
and Mexico. Brigadier-General Kobert Mitchell, of 
Kansas, and Brigadier-General McGinnis, of Iowa, 
were captains in the same regiment. At the termina- 
tion of that war General Lytle studied and entered into 
the practice of the law. 

In 1857 he was elected Major-General of the First 
District of Ohio Volunteers, On the 19th of April, 
1861, he was ordered by the Governor of Ohio to organ- 
ize a camp for four regiments of infantry, and the day 
after receiving this order General Lytle took into Camp 
Harrison the 5th and 6th Ohio Infantry, and shortly 
after the 9th and 10th Ohio. The latter regiment tend- 
ered him the colonelcy, which was accepted ; and he led 
it through the Virginia campaign, under McClellan 
and Eosecrans, up to the date of Carnifex Ferry, where 
he was wounded, September 10, 1861. Eecovering from 
his wouiTds, he reported for duty in January, 1862, and 
14 



162 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

"was placed by General Buell in command of the Camp 
of Instruction at Bardstown, Ky., relieving- General 
"Wood. In March he was relieved, and reporting at 
Nashville, was placed in command of Dumont's bpigade, 
Major-General 0. M. Mitchel's division, at Murfrees- 
boro, and made, with General Mitchel, the campaign 
in Northern Alabama, and conducted the evacuation of 
Huntsville, August 31, 1862, under orders from Major- 
General Buell. He commanded the Seventeenth Brig- 
ade up to the battle of Chaplin Hills, where he was 
again wounded, October 8, 1862. During the following 
winter he was promoted to Brigadier-General, dating 
from November 29, 1862, and reported for duty to the 
Army of the Cumberland in the spring of 1863, and 
was assigned to the command of the First Brigade, 
Third Division, of the Twentieth Army Corps. 

A Tribute to the Tenth Ohio. 

When Colonel Mulligan was in Cincinnati, he and the 
noble William H. Lytle were invited to the dedication 
of the Catholic Institute. It was the 22d of November, 
1861. Lytle had just recovered from his Carnifex 
Ferry wound. The Colonel was called upon for a speech. 
He said : 

" When I go back and tell my men how, for their 
sakes, you have received me to-night, they will feel 
very proud. They often think of you, my fellow-citi- 
zens ; and the brother, mother, wife, or sister, among 
you, in spirit visits the soldier as he rests in his chill 
tent at night. 

" It does not become me to speak of my own regi- 



DRILLING. 163 

ment, for I know tliat lie who putteth his armor on 
C3^ not boast as he that puts it off. But, as it is dis- 
tant, and can not hear my words, I may say this much : 
the T-enth has been ever true to the motto inscribed 
upon its flag — ' God and the Union.' " 

The Colonel paid a feeling tribute to John Fitzgib- 
bons, the dead color-bearer of the Tenth, and hoped 
that the memory of his deeds, of Kavanagh, and others, 
who fell on the field in defense of their country, might 
inspire their countrymen to rise and avenge them. 

Deilling. 

Sweet Amy asked, with pleading eyes, 

" Dear Charley, teach me, will you, 
The words I've heard your captain say? 

I should so like to drill youl" 

"What! little one, you take command! 

Well, Amy, I'm quite willing; 
In such a company as yours, 

I can't have too much drilling. 

"Stand over, then, and sing out clear, 
Like this: 'Squad! stand at ease!'" 

"0, Charles! you'll wake papa, up stairs; 
Don't shout like that, love, please." 

"Now, stand at ease, like this, you see! 

And then, I need scarce mention. 
The next command you have to give, 

Is this one: 'Squad! attention!' 

"Now, Amy, smartly after me; 

(You're sure, dear, it won't bore you?) 
'Forward, march! Halt! Front! Eight dress!' 

There, now, I'm close before you. 



164 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

'"Present arms!'" "Well, it does look odd." 

"You don't believe I'd trifle! 
We hold our arms out, just like this, 

In drill without the rifle. 

"Now say, 'Salute your officer!'" 

"0, Chai'les! for shame! how can you? 

I thought you were at some such trick, 
You horrid, naughty man you." 

Charles "ordered arms" without command; 

She smoothed her ruffled hair, 
And pouted, frowned, and blushed, and then 

Said softly, "As you were!" 

A Black Nightingale's Song. 

Shortly after our troops occupied one of tlie towns in 
Virginia, a squad occupying a tent near a dwelling 
heard delightful music. The unknown vocalist sang in 
such sweet, tremulous, thrilling notes, that the boys 
strained their ears to drink in every note uttered. 

On the following day they made some excuse to visit 
the house, but no one was there. Once they observed 
a sylph-like form, but she was not the person ; and so 
they lived on, each night hearing the same divine 
music. 

One night, when they were gathered together, the 
voice was again heard. "By Jove!" said one, "I'm 
bound to find out who that is; she must be discovered." 
A dozen voices took up the remark, and a certain 
nervous youth was delegated to reconnoiter the place. 
He crept on tiptoe toward the dwelling, leaped the 
garden-wall, and finally, undiscovered, but pallid and 
remorseful, gained the casement. Softly raising his 



OUR HOOSIER BOYS. 165 

head, he peeped within. The room was full of music; 
he seemed to grow blind for a moment, when lo ! upon 
the kitchen-table sat the mysterious songster, an ebony- 
hued negress, scouring the tinware, and singing away. 
Just as he was peering through the window, the ebony 
songster discovered him. The soldier's limbs sank 
beneath him, and the black specimen of humanity 
shouted : 

" Go 'way dar, you soger-man, or I '11 let fly de fryin' 
pan at your head ! You mus n't stan' dar peekin'. at 
dis chile." 

The soldier left, his romantic vision dispelled. 

Our Hoosier Boys. 

DEDICATED TO THE BRAVE SOLDIERS OP INDIANA. 

From East to West your camp-firos blaze, 

Hoosier boys! our Hoosier boys! 
On Vicksburg's bights our flag you raise, 

Hoosier boys! our Hoosier boys! 
And on Virginia's trait'rous soil, 
In answer to your country's call, 
The echoes of your footsteps fall, 

Hoosier boys! our Hoosier boys! 

While Southern suns upon you beat, 

Hoosier boys! our Hoosier boys! 
You sternly march the foe to meet, 

Hoosier boys! our Hoos'ier boys! 
Two winters, numbered with the past. 
Have o'er you swept with stormy blast. 
Since home's dear walls inclosed you last^ 

Hoosier boys! our Hoosier boys! 

By Richmond's fields, baptized with blood, 
Hoosier boys! our Hoosier boys! 



166 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

By precious dust 'neath Shiloli's sod, ■ 

Hoosier boys! our Hoosier boys! M 

By every martyred hero's grave, 

By sacred rights they died to save, 

We'll cherish in our hearts the brave 
Hoosier boys! our Hoosier boys! 

While yet a vacant place is here, 

Hoosier boys! our Hoosier boys! 
From hearts and homes will rise the prayer, 

Hoosier boys! our Hoosier boys! 
" God bless our gallant men and true, 
And let foul treason meet its due!" 
That faithful hearts may welcome you 

Home again, our Hoosier boys! 



OLD STONNICKER AND COLONEL MAEEOW. 167 



CHAPTER XVI. 

Old Stonnicker and Colonel Marrow, of 3d Ohio — General Garnett and his 
Dogs — "Are You the Col-o-nel of this Post ? " — Profanity in the Army — 
High Price of Beans in Camp — A Little Game oi- " Draw." 

Old Stonnicker and Colonel Mareow, of 3d Ohio. 

A PECULIAR specimen of the "genus Virginia" had 
a great deal of trouble while our army was encamped 
at Elkwater. Stonnicker 's fences and sugar-camp were 
used for fire-wood, corn-field for fodder, apple-trees 
stripped. 

Stonnicker's family were sick. One of his oldest 
gals had the "soger's fever." He "guessed she must 
o' cotched it from either the 3d Ohio or 17th Ingeeana 
Eegiment, as the ofiicers kept a comin' there so much." 

One day he sent for Colonel Marrow, and the Colo- 
nel obeying the summons, Stonnicker said : 

"Colonel, one of my children is dead, and I haven't 
any thing to bury the child in." 

The Colonel, a kind-hearted gentleman, had a neat 
coffin made ; lent the old man horses and an ambulance, 
and attended personally to the burial, at which the 
old man took on "amazingly." 

An hour or two after the funeral, old Stonnicker 
strolled up to the Colonel's quarters. 



168 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

"Colonel," said he, as the tears rolled down his 
cheeks; "Colonel, what shall I do?" 

The Colonel, thinking he was mourning over the 
loss of his lately -buried child, replied : 

" 0, bear up under such trials like a man." 

" Wal, I know I orto; but, Colonel, can't you do 
something for me ? It is too bad ! I feel so misera- 
ble! Boo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo ! " 

"O, come, be a man," said the Colonel; "any thing 
I can do for you shall be done, willingly." 

"0, Colonel! I knowed it; I knowed it. My old 
woman allers said you was a fust- rate feller ; and, Col- 
onel, ef you '11 only pay me for them two stacks of hay 
your men took from my field, I shall be mighty glad, 
for I want the money." 

It is needless to say that the Colonel's sympathies 
instantly ceased, and, turning on his heel, he might 
have been heard' to say, " 0, d — n you and your hay." 

General Garnett and his Dogs. 

It was said by the boys that at the battle in which 
General Garnett was killed, a favorite dog of his was 
with him on the field. During the three months fol- 
lowing I saw not less than fifty dogs, each one said, 
positively, to be the identical dog belonging to the 
rebel general. 

Are You the Col-o-nel of this Post? 

I was seated one day in the telegraph ofiice at Bev- 
erly. Prince was the telegrapher, and he was commu- 



1 



ARE YOU THE COL-0-XEL OF THIS POST? 169 

nicating with some female at Buckliannon, telling her 
to come over on the next train. While enjoying a 
lump of white sugar dissolved in hot water, sent by 
Uncle Peter Thomson, especially to cure my cold, a big, 
brawny Irishman entered the office, and, as I was 
rigged out in the Secession uniform of Captain Ezzard, 
of the Gate City Guards, Atlanta, Georgia, I was mis- 
taken for a general by the said Irishman, who accosted 
me much after this style : 

" Good mornin' to ye, sur. And how are yees dis 
mornin' ? " 

"Good morning, sir," said I. 

"Sure, sir," said he; "are you the Col-o-nel of this 
post? for it was him I was towld to ax for — for a pass 
to get to see my wife, who lives five miles away from 
here, adjoining the white church, forninst the first 
woods to the right as you go to Huttonsville." 

As soon as he finished his speech I informed him I 
was not the Col-o-nel, but that Colonel William Bosley 
was the gentleman he must see. I told him, moreover, 
tha.t "the Colonel was a very cross man; very strict 
in his discipline: if he didn't approach him "just so," 
he would very likely refuse any pass, and kick him 
into the bargain." 

" Thank you, sur ; thank you, sur. 0, but I '11 ap- 
proach him right. Never fear me ! " 

I pointed him to the marquee, in front of which was 
a large stake, or post, for hitching horses. 

" There," said I, " you see ; that 's the post." 

"Well, sur; plaise to tell me what I must do?" 

" You must go three times round the post ; make 
your bow; place your hands behind you; walk to the 
15 



170 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

entrance of his tent, and inquire, ' If lie commands 
that post ? ' Tell him you want to see your wife, and 
the pass, no doubt, will be given you." 

The Irishman did as requested. Colonel Bosley said 
he knew there was a joke up, and humored it; and 
after putting all sorts of grotesque questions to the 
man, he was allowed to go on his way, rejoicing. 

High Peice of Beans in Camp — A Little Game 
OF "Draw." 

Beans were excessively high, one season, in our army. 
I have seen Charley Brutton and Lieutenant South- 
gate and Captain Frank Ehrman, and other officers, 
pay as high as five cents apiece for them. Brutton said 
he intended to make bean-soup of his. Often, while I 
stood looking at parties around a table, I heard re- 
marks like these : 

" Ten beans better than you." .•*• 

I suppose he meant that his ten beans were better 
than his opponent's ten beans. Then some one of the 
party, seated at the end of the- table, would say: 

" I see them ten beans." 

Well, so did I, and everybody else about there. 
We could n't help but see them. Why, therefore, need 
he make so superfluous a remark ? Then the other 
would say: 

" I CALL YOU." 

But I did n't hear him call. All he would do was, 
to lay his beans on the pile in the middle of the table, 
and soon they all spread out some pictures and dots 
that were printed on white pasteboard. Then one man 



PROFANITY IN THE ARMY. 171 

readies out his hand and draws over the beans to his 
side; and he smiles complacently, and all the others 
look beat and crabbed. And this they call a little 
game of dratv. 

Charley Clark and Captain Westcott say 'tis a bad 
practice; ayid they ought to know. 

Profanity in the Army. 

It is astonishing how rapidly men in the service 
become profane. I never before appreciated" the oft- 
quoted phrase, " He swears like a trooper." Young 
men whom I have noticed, in times gone by, for their 
urbanity and quiet demeanor, now use language unbe- 
coming gentlemen upon any occasion. But here it 13 
overlooked, because ^'everybody does it;'' but, to my 
mind, 

"'Tis a custom more honored in the breach than the observance." 

y^ Gambling, too ! 0, how they take to it ! " 0, it 's 
just for pastime," says one. Yes; but it is a pastime 
that will grow and grow, and drag many a one to ruin. 
Among the many ways that the boys have of evading 
the law against it in camp is, going off into the woods 
and taking a "quiet game," as they term it. Chuck- 
a-luck, sweat-cloth, and every species, of device for 
swindling are resorted to by the baser sort. 



172 INCIDENTS OF THE WAE. 



CHAPTER XVII. 

Eabd on the Sutler : Spiritualism Tried — A Specimen of Southern Poetry^ 
Singular — March to Nashville — General Steadman Challenged by a 
Woman — Nigger Question — " Rebels Returning." 

Hard on the Sutler — Spiritualism Tried. 

The officers of some regiments will drink — that is, 
they can be induced. 

There was a sutler, a great devotee to the modern 
science — if science it can be called — of spiritualism. 
The officers found this out, and determined to play upon 
his credulity. The quarter-master was quite a wag, 
and lent himself to the proposed fun. His large tent 
was prepared : holes were made in it, and long black 
threads attached to various articles in the apartment, 
and one or two persons stationed to play upon these 
strings. 

The party met as per agreement; every thing was 
arranged ; the credulous sutler present. While enjoy- 
ing the evening, the crowd were surprised to see things 
jumping around; a tumbler was jerked off a table, 
no one near it; clothing lifted up from the line run- 
ning through the length of the tent. Some one sug- 
gested "spirits." All acknowledged the mystery, 
while some would, and others would not, accept the 



HAED ON THE SUTLER — SPIRITUALISM TRIED. 173 

spiritual hypothesis as a correct solution. The matter 
must be tested, and the sutler was appointed chief 
interrogator. 

"If," said he, '"there are really spirits, why can 
they not prove it, by knocking this candlestick from 
my hand ? " 

"Why can't they?" echoed others. 

And, sure enough, no sooner said than done, and 
done so quickly that no one but the performer was the 
wiser, whose knuckles, he said, pained him for a week 
afterward. Another of the party said to the spirit, 
"Fire a pistol." 

Bang ! was the reply. 

The sutler became terrified. Again it was agreed 
that they should try questioning by the rapping process. 
The sutler proceeded : 

"Are there any spirits present?" 

Bap ! rap ! rap ! 

"Is it the spirit of a deceased relative ? " 

Bap ! rap ! rap ! 

" Whose relative is it ? The Quarter-master's ? " 

Bap. 

"The Adjutant's?" 

Bap. 

"Mine?" 

Bap ! rap ! rap ! 

Here the sutler was requested to ask if there was 
anybody in the room who had committed, any crime. 
The question was asked, and 

Bap ! rap ! rap ! was the reply. 

" Is it the Quarter-master ? " 

Bap. 



174 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

" Is it the Colonel ? " 
. Eap ! 

"Is it the Adjutant?" 

Eap! 

"Is it the Surgeon ? " 

Eap! 

" Is it m-m-e ? " 

Eap ! rap ! rap ! 

" yes ; I know it ! " exclaimed the conscience- 
stricken sutler. (The first case of the kind I ever 
knew.) " yes ; I confess I was a Methodist class- 
leader, and now, here I am, drinking whisky, and 
selling it, and getting three prices from the boys for 
every thing I sell. 0! I'll go and pray!" And he 
accordingly departed. The sutler reported, in the 
morning, that he had prayed, and felt much relieved. 
It so. wrought upon his mind that the joke had to be 
explained to him, to prevent his being driven to dis- 
traction. 

A Specimen of Southern Poetry. 

From the appended exquisite gem of " Southern 
poetry," it will be seen that they wish to raise the 
black flag. Well, why do nt they raise it ? Let us 
hope that for every black flag they raise. Uncle Abra- 
ham will raise a black regiment. It is from the Chat- 
tanooga Rebel, and is entitled 

THE BLACK FLAG. 

Raise now the sable flag! high let it wave 
O'er all Secessia's hills and flowery vales, 
And on its sable folds the motto trace, 



A SPECIMEN OF SOUTHERN POETRY. 175 

"For victory or death!" The hated foe 

Have gathered in our lovely land, and trod, 

With desecrating steps, our State's proud Capital. 

They 've pillaged in our cities, burned our homes, 

Exiled our stanch, true-hearted patriots. 

Arrested loyal citizens, and sent 

Them to those hungry bastiles of the North, 

The ignominious "Chase" and "Johnson's Isle." 

Our clergy — God's anointed — who refused 

To take a black, obnoxious oath, to perjure 

Their own souls, they placed in "durance vile." 

The noble daughters of the " sunny South," 

Whose hearts were with their country's cause, they forced 

To yield obedience to their hated laws. 

Nor heeded cries of pity ; whether from 

Matron staid, beseeching them to leave her, 

For her little ones, her own meat and bread; 

Or from the bright-eyed boy, with manly grace, 

Who brooks, with sorrowing looks, the insults she 

Is forced to bear, and dares not to resent ; 

Or from the gray-haired sire, whose cord of life 

Is nearly loosed, who, in enfeebled tones, 

Prays them to cease their vexing rai3s, and let 

An old man die in peace. Nor will they list 

To maiden fair, whose virtue is their goal. 

They've desolated every home where once 

Abundance bloomed, and with the weapons of 

A warrior (?) — fire and theft — have laid our homes 

In ashes, plundered their eifects, and sworn 

Th' extermination of Secessia's sons. 

Then raise the ebon flag ! with Spring's warm breath 

Let it unfurl its night-like folds, and wave 

Where noble "Freeman" fills a martyr's grave. 

Then strike! but not for booty, soldiers brave; 

Fight to defend your liberties and homes — 

The joy it gives to see the Vandals fall. 

And catch the music of their dying groans. 

Go! burn their cities, scourge their fertile lands; 

Teach them retaliation; plow their fields. 

And slay by thousands with your iron hail; 



176 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

Scorn every treaty, eA^ery Yankee clan 
Defy with Spartan courage. Vengeance stamp 
Upon your bayonets; and let the hills and 
Vales resound with Blood — your battle-ci'y. 

Singular. 

Civilians are often puzzled, in reading reports of bat- 
tles, to understand how it is that a thousand troops in 
a body can " stand the galling fire of the enemy " for 
an hour or more, and come out with but two or three 
killed and half a dozen wounded; or how they can 
"mow down the enemy at every shot " for a long time, 
and yet not kill over a dozen or so of them. Every 
thing that is done now-a-days is a complete "rout;" 
all the enemy's camp equipage, guns, ammunition, etc., 
are taken. Will somebody wiser than I am please 
explain ? 

The Modern Troubadour. 

A CAMP SONG. 

Gaily the hully boy smoked his cigar, 
As he was hastening off for the war; 
Singing — "To Secesh land, thither I go: 
Rebuels! rebuels! fight all you know I" 

'Lize for the bully boy gave nary weep. 

Knowing full well he 'd his .promise keep, 

And make her his little wife; so this was her song — 

"Bully boy! bully boy! come right along!'' 

In Camp, near Tennessee Line, "i 
October 7, ISG2, J 

At five o'clock this morning struck tents at camp, a 
few miles this side of Bowling Green, and were on the 



ON" THE MARCH. 177 

march for "any place where ordered." I am thus 
indefinite, because the publication of the " ultimate des- 
tination " is contraband news. Yesterday we were 
encamped in a wildly picturesque part of Kentucky — 
intensely rocky — abounding in caverns and subterra- 
nean streams ; to-day we marched through what has 
been a delightful country, beautifully rolling land, and 
highly-cultivated farms ; but now, what a sad picture is 
presented ! Scarce a fence standing ; no evidences of 
industry ; all is desolation, and the demon of devasta- 
tion seems to have stalked through the entire State 
with unchecked speed — houses burned, roads neglected, 
farms destroyed, in fact, nothing but desolation staring 
you in the face, turn which way you will. 

Early this morning the road was very dusty, but by 
nine o'clock we had a splendid representation of " Bo- 
naparte crossing the Alps," minus the Alps, and nothing 
but active marching kept the boyS from feeling the 
extra keenness of old Winter's breath. Still, the boys 
trudged merrily on, feeling confident the present march 
is not to be fruitless in its results, as preceding ones 
have been. This campaign now presents an active ap- 
pearance, every thing indicating a head to conceive and 
the will to do. 

At three o'clock to-day we passed through the neat- 
looking town of Franklin. It looks very new, most of 
the houses being substantial bricks. Here we met Gen- 
eral Fry, the man who slewed Zollicofl^'er. The General 
is of plain, unostentatious appearance, a keen eye, lips 
compressed, the whole countenance denoting determina- 
tion and quickness of perception. 



178 incidents of the war. 

General Steadman Challenged by a Woman. 

Riding along to-day with General Steadman, who, in 
his province as commander of this brigade, had called 
at the dwellings on the road-side, to see about the sick 
soldiers left in the houses, the General knocked at a 
door, and a voice within yelled " Come in." Obeying 
the injunction, he opened the door, and inquired how 
many men were there, and, also, if they had the requi- 
site attention shown them. After a few minutes' talk 
with the soldiers. General Steadman entered into con- 
versation with Mr. Reynolds, the owner of the prop- 
erty, who, among other things, asked the General when 
he thought the war would end; to which the General 
replied : 

"Not till the rebels lay down their arms, or the 
Secessionists get perfectly tired of having their coun- 
try devastated." 

This reply brought in a third party — old Mrs. Rey- 
nolds, a regular spitfire, a she-Secessionist of the most 
rabid, cantankerous species — a tiger-cat in petticoats. 
This she specimen of the " Spirit of the South," of the 
demon of desolation, had bottled up her venom during 
the conversation of her son, but could hold in no longer; 
her vial of wrath ''busted," the cork flew out, and the 
way she came at the General was a caution to the way- 
farers over this road, at any rate. 

" 0, yes ! and that 's all you nasty Yankees come here 
for, is to destroy our property, invade our sile, deser- 
latin' our homes. This 'ere whole war is nothing but 
a Yankee speculation, gotten up by the North, so that 
they can steal niggers and drive us from our homes." 



GENERAL STEADMAN CHALLENGED. 179 

"Well, madam, as it is not my province to quarrel 
with a woman, I shall not talk to you. You get ex- 
cited, and do n't know what you 're talking about." 

" ! but I '11 talk to you as much as I please. You 're 
all a sneaking set of thieves. You can just take your- 
self out of my house, you dirty pup. You 're drunk." 

The General very placidly listened to the old terma- 
gant, and merely remarked, " It was too cold to go out 
of the house just then; he guessed he 'd warm himself 
first." 

" Get out, quick," said she, opening the door. "I '11 
let you know I 'm a Harney. Yes, I 'm a grand- daugh- 
ter of General Harney, of Eevolutionary fame." 

" Well, madam, I have before told you I do n't want 
to quarrel with a woman, but if you have any of the 
male Harneys about the house, who will give me the 
tenth part of the insolence that I have listened to from 
the lips of 'one old enough to know better,' I will soon 
show him of what mettle I 'm made." 

"Jeemes, give me your six-shooter," fairly shrieked 
the old woman; "I'll soon show him., I'll fight you 
at ten paces, sir ! " 

The General laughed at her last remark ; seeing 
which, she became perfectly furious. Her sons and 
daughters begged her to desist from such talk; but 
the more they cried "Don't," the less she "don'ted." 

The family, by this time, had been made aware that it 
was a real General at whom this insolence of tongue was 
being hurled, and the tribulation of the son was great. 
The General, after thoroughly warming himself, quietly 
walked out with his staff. The son followed to the door, 
making all sorts of apologies for his mother — that she 



180 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

had been sick, was peevish, and, at times, out of her 
head. I suggested to him, that I did n't think she 
would he so apt to go out of her head if John Morgan 
had come along, instead of a Union man. 

Lucky for that house and its inmates that the 9th 
Ohio, or any of General Steadman's command, were 
not apprised of the proceedings. The General, in the 
kindness of his heart, and for the sake of the soldiers 
quartered there, placed a guard around her house, to 
prevent her being troubled in the least while the regi- 
ments were passing. 



GOING INTO BATTLE. 181 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



GoiNO INTO Battle — Letter to the Secesh — General Garfield, Majok-Gen- 

ERAL ROSECRANS'S CHIEF OF STAFF — GENERAL LeW WALLACE — ThE SlEGE OF 

Cincinnati — Parson Beownlow — Colonel Charles Anderson. 



Going into Battle. 

Many wonder if men wear their coats and knapsacks, 
and carry blankets, when going into battle. That de- 
pends upon circumstances. Sometimes, when march- 
ing, they find themselves in battle when they least 
expect it. Upon such occasions, soldiers drop every 
thing that is likely to incommode them, and trust to 
luck for the future. 

Many wonder if regiments fire regularly, in volleys, 
or whether each man loads and fires as fast as he can. 
That, also, depends upon circumstances. Except when 
the enemy is near, the regiments fire only at the com- 
mand of their officers. 

You hear a drop, drop, drop, as a few of the skirm- 
ishers fire, followed by a rattle and a roll, which sounds 
like the falling of a building, just as you may have 
heard the brick walls at a fire. 

Sometimes, when a body of the enemy's cavalry are 
sweeping down upon a regiment to cut it to pieces, the 
men form in a square, with the officers and musicians 



182 INCIDENTS OF THE WAE. 

in the center. The front rank stand with bayonets 
charged, while the second rank fires as fast as it can. 
Sometimes they form in four ranl^s deep — the two front 
ones kneeling, with their bayonets charged, so that, if 
the enemy sliould come upon them, they would run 
against a picket-fence of bayonets. Wlien they form 
this way, the other two ranks load and fire as fast as 
they can. Then the roar is terrific, and many a horse 
and rider go down before the terrible storm of leaden 
hail. 

-Letter to the Secesh. 

My Dear Eebs: Having just learned that Vicks- 
"burg hais gone up — Port Hudson caved — Jackson sur- 
rendered — Bragg unwell — I thought I would ask you 
a few questions, for instance : 

How are you, any how ? 

How does " dying in the last ditch " agree with your 
general health ? 

How is the Constitution down your way ? 

Do you think there is any Government ? 

How is King Kotting ? 

Is Yancey well and able to hold his oats ? 

Has Buckner taken Louisville yet? 

I understand Tilghman has quit hanging Union men. 

Is Floyd still rifling cannon, and other small arms ? 

How is the Southern heart? 

Are you still able to whip five to one? 

What is your opinion of the Dutch race ? 

When will England and France recognize you? 

What have you done with the provisional govern- 
ment of Kentucky ? 



i GENERAL GARFIELD. 183 

Where is tlie Louisville-Bowling-Green-Nasliville- 
Atlanta Courier published now ? Say — 
What do you think of yourselves any how ? 
A prompt answer will relieve many anxious hearts. 
Yours, in a horn, A Lincoln Man. 

General Garfield, Major-General Rosecrans's 
Chief of Staff. 

The rather brilliant career of the General is worthy 
of a more extended notice than I have room for. 

General Garfield was born in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, 
in 1831. It is said that, in his early love of freedom, 
he formed a strong attachment for horses, and, to gratify 
this feeling, he ran away from home and became a driver 
on the canal. Possessing remarkable endurance, and 
great strength, with no small amount of combative spirit, 
he soon became a " shoulder-hitter," whipping all oppo- 
nents who were any way near his own age, and becoming 
a terror to the quarrelsome rowdies who had previously 
ruled the ditch. 

During the hight of his wild career he attended a 
revival meeting, became converted, found new and 
wealthy friends, who supplied him with funds to attend 
college, and, in 1856, he graduated at William's College, 
Massachusetts, with the highest honors. 

Returning to Ohio, he at once settled as a clergyman 
and president of the college at Hiram, Portage County. 
He here became very popular as an eloquent divine, as 
a lecturer before lyceums, and as a profound scholar. 
The success of his school was without a precedent. 
Two years ago he was elected, by an immense majority, 



184 INCIDENTS OF THE WAE. 

as a member of the State Senate. At the first call for 
troops, he at once entered the field, and rallied round 
him some of the ablest boys to be found in the State. 

General Garfield is what would be called, by ladies, a 
really handsome man ; has large, blue eyes, an express- 
ive mouth, the outlines of which denote good nature. 
It was prophesied at once, after his enlistment, that,. 
" Let Rev. Mr. Garfield have a chance at the rebels, 
and he would die in the field, or win a victory." He 
has, at all times, so far, been on the winning side. 

Humphrey Marshall — the barn-door of the Southern 
Confederacy — it is said, once beat General Garfield, dur- 
ing the early Kentucky campaign. Marshall was in a 
trap, and, wanting a little time, called upon Garfield 
with a white flag, who was commanding a brigade, and 
asked — 

"Is there no way to settle this without fighting?" 

" No, sir," said Garfield, " none but to fight — some- 
hody has got to get hurt." 

But Marshall did n't see it in that light — retired to 
consult — and, in the mean time, beat a hasty retreat, 
and thus beat Garfield. 

Geneeal Lew "Wallace. 

General Lew Wallace was formerly colonel of the 
11th Indiana (three-months men,) known as Zouaves, 
who were noted for their daring bravery and dash. 
"When the regiment returned to Indiana to be reorgan- 
ized for the war. General Wallace remained quiet a few 
days, when the trouble in Missouri aroused his ener- 
gies, and he issued a spirited call to his fellow-citizens, 



GENERAL LEW WALLACE. 185 

which was responded to with the greatest enthusiasm. 
They flocked to his standard, and were sent to the De- 
partment of Missouri, and thence to Paducah, after 
which he was promoted to a generalship in the divi- 
sion of General C. F. Smith. 

General Wallace made himself a legion of friends in 
his able management of affairs during the memorable 
siege of Cincinnati by the rebels. At a public meeting 
in Columbus, Ohio, a Flagg was raised, and the following 
war poem recited : 

THE SIEGE OF CINCINNATI. 

Who saved our city, when the foe 
Swore in his wrath to lay it low, 
And turned to joy our tears of woe? 

Lew Wallace 
Who taught us how to cock the gun, 
And aim it straight, and never run, 
And made us heroes, every one? 

Lew Wallace. 
And told us how to face and wheel. 
Or charge ahead with pointed steel, 
While cannon thundered, peal on peal? 

Lew Wallace. 
Who, when all in bed did sleep, 
About us watch and ward did keep, 
Like watch-dog round a flock of sheep? 

Lew Wallace. 
Who made us all, at his commands, 
With fainting hearts and blistering hands, 
Dig in the trench with contrabands? 

Lew Wallace. 
Who would have led us, warriors plucky, 
To bloody fields far in Kentucky? 
But Wright said, No ! — and that was lucky? 

Lew Wallace. 

16 



186 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR 

Who sat his prancing steed astraddle, 
Upon a silver-mounted saddle, 
And saw the enemy skedaddle? 

Lew Wallace. 

And who, " wha hae wi' Wallace " fed. 
On pork and beans and army bi'ead, 
Will e'er forget, when he is dead. 

Lew Wallace? 

Parson Brownlow. 

The Knoxville Register thus laments the release of 
the Parson from the prison of that city : 

"In brief, Brownlow has preached at every church 
and school-house, made stump-speeches at every cross- 
road, and knows every man, woman, and child, and 
their fathers and grandfathers before them, in East 
Tennessee. As a Methodist circuit-preacher, a politi- 
cal stump-speaker, a temperance orator, and* the editor 
of a newspaper, he has been equally successful m our 
division of the State. Let him but once reach the con- 
fines of Kentucky, with his knowledge of the geography 
and the population of East Tennessee, and our section 
will soon feel the effect of his hard blows. From among 
his own old partisan and religious sectarian parasites 
he will find men who will obey him with the fanatical 
alacrity of those who followed Peter the Hermit in the 
first Crusade. We repeat again, let us not underrate 
Brownlow." 

The gallant Colonel Charles Anderson, of the 93d 
Ohio, in a speech in Columbus, said : 

" The South laugh at the little shams of the hour 
with which they agitate us; but their purpose is deep 



COLONEL CHARLES ANDEESON. 187 

and dark. They mean to carry out their system of 
'oligarchy' at whatever cost. Looking upon slavery 
as I now do, having seen it from every side, and know- 
ing that the South intend the destruction of this Union — 
were I to stand before the congregated world, I would 
declare it — I will hew slavery from crest to hip, from 
hip to heel, and cut my way through white, black, and 
yellow — nerve, muscles, bone — tribes and races, to the 
Gulf of Mexico, to save the Union." 



188 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 



CHAPTER XIX. 

An Episode of the War — Laughable Incident — Old Mrs. Wiggles on Picket 
Duty — General Manson — God Bless the Soldiers — Negro's Pedigree of 
Abraham Lincoln — A Middle Tennessee Preacher — A Laconic Speech. 

An Episode of the War. 

During the early part of the rebellion, when the 
rebels were in force on Munson's Hill, McClellan laid 
a plan to surround and capture them. This plan was 
only known t*o McClellan, General Scott, and Colonel 
Scott, a relation of the General, by marriage. As the 
troops started out at night, for their assault, a signal 
rocket went up from Washington. On their arrival at 
Munson's Hill, the bird had flown. McClellan, being 
informed of this, immediately called on General Scott, 
finding there Colonel Scott. He immediately said to 
the General: "The enemy have been warned of our 
movements by a rocket ; they must have been so warned 
by one of us. Which is the traitor?" No answer was 
given. McClellan then called on the President, and 
mentioned the above facts, stating his conviction that 
Colonel Scott was the delinquent, and insisted upon his 
immediate imprisonment, or his banishment, or his own 
resignation. Then followed General Scott's resigna- 
tion, then his journey to Paris, and the self-banishment 
of Colonel Scott. 



OLD MRS. WIGGLES OIST PICKET DUTY. 189 

A Laughable Incident. 

Considerable merriment and not a few immodest ex- 
pressions were elicited at Washington, one day, by the 
action of the patrol, who perambulate the Avenue on 
horseback, a terror to all fast riders. On this occa- 
sion they made an onslaught upon the darkeys, who, 
for some time past, had luxuriated in the uniform of 
United States volunteers. How the articles of wearing 
apparel were obtained by "the contrabands alluded to 
we have not inquired. The patrol rode up to each 
unfortunate "Sambo" that made his appearance, and 
proceeded to divest him of each of the articles enumer- 
ated, save where the bare necessity of the case would 
not admit of such a procedure. Caps, vests, and coats 
rapidly disappeared from " Sambo's " body, and were 
deposited in the street at the feet of the horses. 

" Take off your breeches'," we heard escape the lips 
of one of the patrol. The darkey grinned, then rolled 
his eyes, gazed at some ladies passing, and then, with 
an astonished countenance, looked up into the face of 
the patrol. "Massa," he said, "I aint got nuffin else 
on when I take dese off." This was something of a 
puzzle to the guard on horseback, and so, not wishing 
to shock the modesty of the street, " Sambo " was al- 
lowed to depart with his linen and trowsers. 

Old Mrs. Wiggles on Picket Duty. 

"As for sleeping on a picket," said Mrs. Wiggles to 
the three-months volunteer who had dropped in to see 
her, " I do n't see how they can do it without hurting 
them. Sleeping on a post would be a good deal more 



190 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

sensible, unless there 's a nail in it, which might be 
prejudicioiis for the uniform. Every one to his taste, 
and such things as where a man shall sleep is at his 
own auction; but nobody can help thinking that either 
a picket or a post is a very uncomfortable place to 
sleep on. At any rate, there is n't much room for 
more than one in a- bed." 

General Manson. 

Brigadier-General Manson was in camp at Glenn's 
Fork, Pulaski County, eighteen miles from the scene of 
the Mill Spring battle, and, with his brigade, made a 
forced march that distance, over horrible midwinter 
roads, arriving just in time to engage honorably in the 
fight. The gallant 10th Indiana lost seventy -five men. 
Its colonel, commanding the brigade as above, is an 
officer of great bravery and ability. His conduct at 
the battle of Rich Mountain, in Western Virginia, as 
colonel of that regiment, and his experience in the war 
with Mexico, constitute a happy preface to his late bril- 
liant achievement. This same lOth Indiana is fully 
up to the feat of rapid marches. At one time, being 
detailed to go to Greensburg from Campbellsville, to 
repel an anticipated attack of Secesh, the march was 
made by the Hoosier boys in three hours, a distance of 
twelve miles, eight of which was over a dirt-road that 
had had the advantage of a hard rain the night previous. 

God Bless the Soldier. 

A young and beautiful lady of Louisville (Minnie 
Myrtle) says : " God bless the soldier ! " 0, could we 



GOD BLESS THE SOLDIER. 191 

but look into the almost bursting heart of the rough- 
clad, tired soldier, as he plods his way, weary and worn, 
casting a glance, at intervals, to see one kind smile, to 
hear one kind and gentle voice to remind him of home, 
and the "loved ones " left far behind to the mercies of 
a cold and heartless world — could we but look into that 
fond heart and see the aching void, we would clasp 
that hand tenderly, and draw him gently to our homes, 
a welcome guest. 0, did you but think, for a moment, 
of the sacrifice made by the ones you term "striplings," 
you would smother the thought before it rises to your 
pure lips, and your cheeks would burn with the sisterly 
blush, and your lips would breathe a prayer instead 
for the wanderer. 

Come with me to yon snow-covered cabin. 'T is a 
rude hut; but pause ere you enter, and behold the 
scene : An aged mother, bowed in deep and earnest 
prayer; and, as she prays for her jewels, a smile, not 
of sadness, but a settled calmness, gives place to one of 
extreme agony; her boys — she has but two, the pride 
of her declining years — both she gave, as did " Abra- 
ham of old," a living sacrifice upon the " altar of her 
country." Come with me to yonder habitation, not of 
wealth, but comfort. Hark ! What shriek was that 
which rent the air? A widowed mother kneels beside 
the fatherless babe, and asks God in mercy to let the 
bitter cup pass from her. Another sacrifice to the dark 
and bloody ground ! Pause, then, sisters, and give that 
thought not utterance. Your lips should breathe a 
prayer for the friendless soldier. If you have a brother, 
then love the soldier for your brother's sake; and if 
you have none, the honest-hearted soldier will be a 



192 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

brother and protd;tor. But, 0, for the love of God, 
speak kindly to the soldier. 

A Negro's Pedigree of Abraham Lincoln. 

A full-blooded African, who was taken prisoner on 
tlie steamer Lewis, on which he is now employed as a 
cook, in the service of the United States, was encoun- 
tered one evening by the surgeon of one of the naval 
ships, who asked him his name. "Nathaniel," replied 
the negro. "Any other name?" said the doctor; to 
which Sambo replied: "Why, de last name is always de 
massa's name — Massa Johnson." " What do the peo- 
ple say this war is about?" asked the doctor. Nat 
replied: "Why, sir, dey say that some man, called 
Linkum, is going to kill all de women an' de children, 
an' drive de massa away ; and all de colored folks will 
be sold to Cuba." Nathaniel then proceeded to give 
Bome new and highly interesting particulars respecting 
the genealogy of the family of the Chief Magistrate of 
the United States. "Dey say his wife was a black 
woman, and dat his fadder and mudder come from Ire- 
land," said he, speaking with emphasis. The doctor 
indignantly refuted the aspersions cast upon the family 
of the President, and disabused the mind of the negro 
of the false impressions which he had received from the 
Secessionists of the place. 

One morning I accosted a contraband named Dick, 
who was employed in the fort. "Have you any other 
name?" said I. "Dey calls me Dick, de Major," was 
his answer. In reply to interrogatories, he gave an ac- 
count of his life. "I was born in Virginny," said he, 



A LACONIC SPEECH. 193 

holding on tlie rim of a slouchy felt hat, and raising it 
at every inquiry. " Massa sold me, fore I was old 'nuff 
to know my mudder, to a preacher man in Florida. 
Bimeby massa die, and missus, she had a musical turn 
o' mind, and swapped me off for a fiddler ; but de peo- 
ple all got de laf on de ole 'oman, for in two or free 
months the old fiddler died, and she lost us both," and 
the darkey laughed vehemently. 

A Middle Tennessee Preacher. 

A Secesh preacher, who was elected to a captaincy 
in the Home-Guards at Chattanooga, hearing they were 
likely to be called out, sent in the following note : 

" dear curnel i beg to resind my commishen. Being 
a disciple of Krist i can not take up the sord." 

A Laconic Speech. 

An amusing sword presentation took place one day 
in camp. The 78th Pennsylvania presented a sword to 
their colonel, William Sirwell. Captain Gillespie spoke 
as follows : 

" Here we are, and here it is. This is a bully sword, 
and comes from bully boys ; take it, and use it in a 
bully manner." 

Colonel Sirwell replied: 

" Captain, that was a bully speech. Let 's all take a 
bully drink." 
17 



194 INCIDENTS OF THE WAE. 



CHAPTEE XX. 



Union Men Scakce — How they are Dreaded — Incidents — The Wealthy Seces- 
sionists AND Poor Union Widows — The John Morgans of Reisellion — A Con- 
traband's Explanation of the Mystery — Accident at the South Tunnel — 
Impudence of the Rebels — A Pathetic Appeal, etc. 



Camp near Gallatin, Tenn., 

November 20, 1862. 



} 

A TRIP from the tunnel to Gallatin, and back, is a 
good day's sport, for it behooves all to be on the alert, 
to avoid being captured by citizen guerrillas. A num- 
ber of this brigade have already been " gobbled up," 
while out hunting luxuries at farm-houses. This be- 
came so frequent that the General in command issued 
an order prohibiting the boys from leaving camp with- 
out special permission. 

Folks at home have frequently heard of the strong 
Union sentiment pervading Tennessee, but, " cuss me" 
if I have n't hunted in vain for the article during the 
past two weeks, and, with no exception whatever, save 
among the laboring class, have I found an out-and-out 
Union man. They answer with a "double meaning," 
when questioned, and are professed Union men while 
the army is here, and strong Secessionists when the 
rebel army can protect them. 

The fact is, all the true Union men have been driven 



UNION MEN SCAECE. 195 

by the merciless foe into the woods— at any rate from 
their homes. Acts of the most fiendish barbarity have 
been committed, and the aiders and abettors are within 
a few miles of this camp, unmolested, enjoying the com- 
forts of a home, while the true patriot, driven from his 
family to the hills of his native State, is 

''Unsheltered by niglit, and unrested by day; 
Tlie heath for his barracks — revenge for his pay." 

An incident occurred in General Fry's division a few 
days since. Two of the 2d Minnesota Regiment, John 
A. Smith and Mr. Mervis, both of St. Paul, went out, 
by permission of their captain, in search of butter and 
eggs. They took two good horses with them, and al- 
though a week has passed, neither men nor horses have 
returned. The sequel proves that these men were cap- 
tured by armed residents of this neighborhood, as yes- 
terday a company were sent out for forage, and with 
them a number of servants were sent for eatables. Ar- 
riving at the house of 'Squire McMurray, a well-known 
Secessionist, who has two sons in the rebel army, the 
boys made inquiries of the servants in regard to their 
missing comrades, and found out they had been taken 
by a party of guerrillas from near this very house. 
The old scoundrel McMurray openly exulted over the 
fact, and thought it very comical to have the " Yan- 
kees" jerked up once in awhile. ''It will teach them," 
said he, "to stay at home." The boys wanted to pur- 
chase some chickens and turkeys, but he refused to sell 
to " Yanks," swearing his turkeys were not fattened 
for "Down-easters." Mrs. McMurray hurriedly came 
out, and ordered all her black servants in the house, 



196 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

as she said she did n't want her niggers contaminated 
with "sich white trash," 

About two hours after this conversation the brigade 
teams drove up, and soon drove off with ten loads of 
corn and oats, amounting to sixty dollars. 'Squire 
McMurray refused to receive a voucher offered by the 
Quarter-master, and said they were of no account to 
him — it was only a trick of the Abolition Government 
to rob the farmers ; they had already sixty wagon-loads, 
and he guessed he could spare a few more. This man 
has a splendid farm, finely stocked with valuable im- 
ported Cashmere sheep, some of them worth from four 
to five hundred dollars apiece. This man is living in 
luxury, and upon ground that should be occupied by 
the poor and devoted families of those who, by his con- 
nivance, have been driven forth upon the world. Yet 
the great shield of the law — the law he has so basely 
violated, the Constitution he has, and yet does, openly 
defy — is made his safeguard. Is it at all astonishing 
our men weary of this favoritism, this premium upon 
traitors ? 

Let me tell your readers of what I was an eye-wit- 
ness, a few evenings ago. You that have comfortable 
homes and warm firesides, with no war at your doors, 
can have but a faint idea of the horrors that are broad- 
cast over this once happy country. A poor woman 
came to the commanding General of this brigade and 
begged for protection. She lived eight miles from this 
camp, and the rebels had threatened to burn her barn 
and house. Now, what do you think was this woman's 
offense ? Her husband had joined the Union army at 
Nashville last August, and when, a few days afterward, 



THE POOR WIDOW. 197 

he returned to arrange his family affairs, the "gueril- 
las" found out his return, and five of the incarnate 
fiends walked into his house, and while he was seated 
at the table, partaking of his breakfiist, these men shot 
him — there, in the presence of his wife and six chil- 
dren, these fiends, that our worthy President deliber- 
ately "commutes," murdered their only protector; and 
now, not satisfied with their former atrocity, they re- 
turn to drive the poor widow and her children from 
the desolate little homestead ! :i 

! if there is one hell deeper than another, please, 
God, send these wretches, who would persecute a poor 
woman thus, to it ! 

The General, upon hearing the story of her troubles, 
sent out two companies of the 2d Minnesota Regiment 
to guard and bring into camp her children, and what 
few chattels were left. Company A, under Captain 
Barnes, and Company G, under Captain Keifer, were 
assigned to perform this act of deserved charity. 

It was ten o'clock at night, cold and windy, the rain 
penetrating to the very bones, and dark as Egypt, when 
the two companies returned with Mrs. Crane and her 
six children. One rickety wagon, a mangy old horse, 
a cow, some bedding, and a few cooking utensils, were 
the trophies of the trip. These things told a tale of 
poverty, but they were all the poor widow of the mur- 
dered soldier possessed. 

The children were all barefooted, and most scantily 
attired ; the little ones shivered with the cold, and the 
older ones wrapped their tattered garments closer as 
the wind played rudely with them. A little four- 
year-old boy eyed the soldiers with a side glance, and 



198 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

clung to tis mother, as slie held her infant to her 
breast. 

If I were to decide what to do in such a case, I would 
quickly turn out Mr. 'Squire McMurray, and let Mrs. 
Crane and her little ones possess the well-stocked farm. 
To-day the General is endeavoring to get transporta- 
tion to Indiana for this family, at the expense of the 
Government. 

An old negro resident near this camp, in conversa- 
tion, a few days since, said to me : 

" Look-a-heah ! all you white folks, when any deb- 
beltry is done, allers lay it to Massa John Morgan." 

"Well," said I, "don't he do a large share of it?" 

"Yes, he does do a heap; but, Lor bress you, massa, 
gib de debble his due; he do n't do de half what de white 
folks say. You see dat tunnel, don't you?" said he, 
rolling the white of his eyes to the obliteration of all 
sight of the pupil. 

" Yes, I see it," I replied. 

"Well, sah! Massa Morgan had no%more to do wid 
dat tunnel dan you do yourself. Morgan loarnt no 
way nigh dis place when dat was done; de folks what 
lib all round here was de Morganses what do dat work ; 
why, dey done toted rails for free days, and packed 'em 
in dat tunnel, and we darkeys had to help 'em, and den 
dey set 'em on fire, and sich a cracklin' as you nebber 
heard, and in less dan a week ebbery body all over de 
countiy was a-tellin' about how as John Morgan burnt 
de tunnel." 

Impudence of the Eebels. 
"Here, sir, I've got an order for you," said an ac- 
knowledged well-known rebel citizen, as he entered the 



IMPUDENCE OF THE REBELS. 199 

head-quarters of the Greneral commanding the Third 
Brigade of the First Division of the Ohio. From the 
pompous manner of the Tennesseean, the General did n't 
know, for a moment, but that he was about being or- 
dered under arrest by the citizen. The General merely 
replied in his usual style : 

"The hell you have, sir! Who is it from?" 

"From General Fry, sir." 

"Ah! let me see it." 

The order was produced. It requested the General 
not to allow too much of any one man's stock of corn to 
be taken. The General read the request, and instantly 
inquired of the Tennesseean : " Are you a Union man? " 
and as instantly received the reply of " No, sir, I am 
not." 

"Then, G — d d — n you, sir, how dare you have the 
impudence to come within my lines?" 

The Tennesseean, seeing he had a man of the pure 
grit to deal with, shook slightly in his boots, and did 
not put on so much " style," and was about to explain 
something, when the General interrupted him with a 
quick order to leave forthwith, or he would have a 
dozen bayonets in his rear "d — n quick." 

" But, General, how shall I get out of camp ? Won't 
you please give me a pass? " 

" Me give a pass to a rebel ! No, sir. How did you 
get within my lines ? " 

"Why, sir, I just walked straight in." 

"Well, sir, you can just walk straight out, and if 
ever I see you inside my lines again, I '11 have you sent 
where you belong ; and, after this, when you have any 
* order ' for me, if it is from General Halleck, ' or any 



200 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

other man,' do n't you dare to bring it, but se7id it in 
to me, or you "will rue the day." 

A Pathetic Appeal. 

I found the following "pathetic" appeal from the 
women of New Orleans. It was laid carefully by, with a 
lock of hair, bearing the inscription, " To Mary Looker, 
from her cousin Jane. Please send this appeal to all 
our male friends around Gallatin." 

"AN appeal from THE WOMEN OF NEW ORLEANS. 

"To EVERY Soldier: 

"We turn to you in mute agony! Behold our wrongs, fathers! 
husbands! bi'others! sons! We know these bitter, burning wrongs 
will be fully avenged. Never did Southern women appeal in vain 
for protection from insult! But, for the sakes of our sisters 
throughout the South, with tears we implore you not to surrender 
your cities, 'in consideration of the defenseless women and chil- 
dren.' Do not leave your women to the merciless foe! Would it 
not have been better for New Orleans to have been laid in ruins, 
and we buried beneath the mass, than subjected to these untold suf- 
ferings? Is life so priceless a boon that, for the preservation of 
it, no sacrifice is too great? Ah, no! ah, no! Rather let us die with 
you! 0, our fathers! rather, like Virginius, plunge your own swords 
into our breasts, saying, 'This is all we can give our daughters.' 

"The Daughters of the South. 

" New Oeleans, Jilay 14, 1862." 



A FRIENDLY VISIT FOR CORN. 201 



CHAPTER XXI. 

A Feienblt Visit for Corn into an Egyptian Cotjntbt— Ohio Regiments — 
"Corn or Blood" — "Fanny Battles" — The Constitution Busted in Sev- 
eral Places— Edicts Against Dinner Horns, by Colonel Brownlow's Cav- 
alry—A Signal Station Burned— Two Bebel Aids Captured. 

Camp at Triune, Tennessee, \ 
April 26, 1863. i 

Last Thursday was a " gay day" for a portion of the 
Third Division. General Schofield, thinking it requisite 
to lay in a good supply of provender, ordered out one 
hundred and fifty wagons, to go on an errand of mercy 
to our benighted " brethren of the South," and borrow 
of them some corn, oats, and fodder, for Federal horses. 
Well, as it is a recognized breach of etiquette to send 
such a train without escort, therefore, the General sent 
a retinue, consisting of the 35th Ohio, under Colonel 
Long; 9th Ohio, Colonel Josephs; 17th Ohio, Colonel 
Durbin Ward ; 31st Ohio, Colonel Phelps ; also, the 
87th Indiana, Colonel Shyrock ; and the 2d Minnesota, 
under Colonel George ; together with two pieces belong- 
ing to the 4th Regular Battery, under Lieutenants 
Rodney and Stevenson. We went forward with the de- 
termination of obtaining food — " peacefully, if we could; 
forcibly, if we must;" but we had to use the rebel 
women's motto, lately made public in Richmond, " Fpod 



202 INCIDENTS OF THE WAE. 

or Blood." Our new commander accompanied the ex- 
pedition. We started, after partaking of an early break- 
fast, and crossed Harpetli River about nine o'clock. I 
had forgotten to mention that the 1st JEast Tennessee 
Cavalry were along : the rebels have n't forgotten it, how- 
ever, as they were ordered to the front, and, as I am 
fond of seeing them "go in," I was appointed chief aid 
and bottle-holder to the command under Majors Burk- 
hardt and Tracy, and had a splendid opportunity of 
seeing the " Secession elephant." After passing through 
the town of College Grove, we commenced feeling our 
way carefully, as we wished to make our visit a sort of 
" surprise party" to the "brethren in arms; " as a mat- 
ter of course, this was only the "by-play," for while 
the Tennessee boys were unloading their muskets, the 
teamsters were loading corn and oats from Secesh cribs. 
They are excellent C7^ibbage-plaj'ers by this time. 

As our cavalry advanced, the rebel cavalry fell back, 
declining to hold any communication. Major Tracy and 
"ye correspondent" went off the main road, in pursuit 
of knowledge, and came upon half a dozen negroes 
working in a field. The Major introduced "ye inno- 
cent lamb " as General Morgan, and demanded of the 
darkeys if any d — d Yankees had been about there 
lately. The darkeys replied very evasively; would not 
say a word that would injure the cause of the Union 
forces ; denied all knowledge of them or their where- 
abouts. There were some two or three hundred fat 
sheep on the farm, and a good lot of cattle. I sug- 
gested the propriety of driving them within our lines, 
but was astonished when the Major told me it was 
" against orders " to do so. All the males of the family 



THE CONSTITUTION BUSTED. 203 

who owned the negroes and other cattle were in the 
r^bel army — the master and two sons. While talking 
there, we heard firing, and so started for the fun, and 
soon came upon some of the " gentry," yclept " butter- 
nuts." The Major had about twelve men in the lead; 
a few others, with the colors, remaining a quarter of a 
mile to the rear — the regiment a mile in rear of the 
advance. When we arrived at what is known as Tip- 
pets's farm, the rebels, who were sheltered by Wilson's 
house, poured a volley down the road, and without in- 
quiring the cause of such unkind treatment, on their 
part, this "individual" retired some twenty yards. I 
have before heard the sound of the Enfield-rifle ball, 
and have heard many persons say, 'tis "quite mu- 
sical ; " but "I can 't see it." The boys advanced in the 
most daring manner on the open road, while the val- 
iant and "noble chivalry" of Alabama kept continually 
retreating. In order to obtain a better view of the 
fight, and watch the maneuvers of the combatants, I 
went upon the side-hill of an open field to the left of 
the road, and while quietly looking on, three rebs came 
out from behind Wilson's house, and, without as much 
as saying, " By your leave," they blazed away at me. 
Is n't it a shame that these fellows should act so ? 
Why, they " busted the Constitution all to the devil," 
in firing at me. The Major kindly rode up and told 
me, in his usual bland and benign style, that I was a 
d — n fool; that " them fellers was a-shootin' at me." I 
merely replied that I guessed he was mistaken, as I saw 
the bullets ploioing the field some twenty yards in front 
of me. While this conversation was going on between 
the Major and myself, the rebels reloaded their guns 



204 INCIDENTS OF THK WAR. 

and gave ns another trial of their skill, and settled 
the dispute at once, as I had asseverated ; their bullets 
would not reach that distance. The Major was right, 
for a little the nastiest shriek I ever heard came from 
that volley. The. Major's horse didn't like it much, 
and cavorted like the " fiery, untamed steed " ridden by 
the fair "Adah Isaacs." Then we changed our base: 
we went toward the chaps, and, when they would get 
ready to fire, put spurs to our horses and ran from 
them. This so delighted the "rebs," that we gratified 
them with two or three trials, and every time we ran, 
they shouted and said bad vjords. After placing five 
men in ambush, we retired, as if leaving the field, and 
as the traitors were advancing directly into the trap of 
three hours' hard setting, the Wilson family came to 
the door and told them to go back, as the "Yankees" 
were in the orchard there by Tippets's house. The men 
were then within two hundred yards of the ambush, 
and, upon being so informed, hastily wheeled their 
horses and left on a double-quick. This act on the 
part of a citizen rebel so exasperated the men that 
Wilson was given one hour to get out of the house 
with his furniture, as all houses used for military pur- 
poses, signal stations, etc., would meet with destruction. 

While the house was burning, the women boasted 
they had warned them, and would do it again. One 
virago-looking Secesh asseverated, in a voice of un- 
earthly screechiness, that they had lots of " Southern 
friends, and millions of money." 

The citizens along the road will learn a lesson by this 
occurrence. It will teach them not to make signal sta- 
tions of their houses. 



blowing horns unconstitutional. 205 

Blowing Hoens Unconstitutional. 

Another source of annoyance to our men was the 
frequent blasts upon dinner-horns. These " quiet, 
peaceful" citizens, as our men advanced, gave the en- 
emy information by this blasted method. Upon being 
questioned as to the "cause why" they did so much 
blowing, they replied, " They were calling in the boys 
from the field, for fear they would get shot; " and Mrs. 
Tippets said, " 'T was near dinner-time." One of the 
men said he would like something to eat, and went in 
the house, but no sign of dinner preparation could be 
seen. Major Tracy took the horn from Mrs. Tippets, 
at which the lady ( ? ) protested most violently ; said 
there " was no reason in that man," and asked me, " if 
it was n't agin the Constitution for that feller to take 
that horn." 

I told her, in a pacific manner, that that was noth- 
ing; Tracy took from ten to fifteen horns a day. She 
did n't see the joke, and I became disgusted with her 
want of penetration, and left. 

Mr. "Wilson and a man who was in his employ were 
brought into camp as prisoners. Mr. Wilson protested 
he did n't tell the States-rights men any thing, and 
held that he "couldn't hender the women talkin'." 

About four o'clock we commenced a retrograde move- 
ment for the " old camp," and soon caught up with the 
big train, filled with all the delicacies of the season, 
for the brute portion of our division. 

The Miss Fanny Battles who is now so sweetly so- 
journing in the Seminary at Columbus, Ohio, under 
the guardianship of " Uncle Samuel," was a resident 



206 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

of this county. Our troops were encamped upon the 
Battles farm for a month. Miss Battles was very indus- 
trious in circulating about the country. When she 
was taken, she had her drawers stuffed with letters, and 
was trying to steal through our picket-lines. The 
Secretary of State, or those connected with the bu- 
reaus, will, we hope, see that there are no more such 
drawers allowed within the lines. 

The Difference. 

At the house of a Mr. Bolerjack are the wounded 
men belonging to the 1st Tennessee Cavalry. I called 
there yesterday, and, in conversation with Mr. B., he 
expressed surprise at what he termed the difference 
between our wounded and the rebel wounded. He 
said that he had a house full of Secesh at one time, but 
that they kept moaning and groaning all night and 
day, and kept his family busy, while our ^len have 
never muttered, but, on the contrary, are always cheer- 
ful, and only anxious to get back in their saddles. 



EEWAED FOR A MASTER. 207 



CHAPTEE XXII. 

Keward for a Master — Turning the Tables — Dan Boss and his Adventure- 
Major Pic Russell — A Visit to the Outposts with General Jeff C. Davis — 
Rebel Witticisms — Hight Igo, ye Eccentric Quarter-master — Fling Out 
TO THE Breeze, Boys. 

Reward for a Master — Turning the Tables. 

The darkeys of Secession masters fairly flocked into 
camp on many occasions. When near Lebanon, Ky., 
a bright darkey, very witty, kept the camp alive with 
his humor. During the day some Kentuckians had 
posted up in camp an advertisement : " One Hundred 
Dollars Reward. Ran away from the subscriber, my 
man Bob," etc. Jim Duncan, the darkey I have re- 
ferred to, soon after issued the following, and posted it 
beside the other : 

Fifty Cents Reward. — Ran away from dis chile, an' leff him 
all alone to take care of his-seff, after I done worked twenty-six 
years for him faithfully, my massa, "Bill Duncan." Massa Bill 
is supposed to have gone off wid de Secesh/or to hunt for his rights; 
and I 'spect he done got lost. Any pusson 'turnin' him to dis chile, 
so dat he can take keer ob me, (as he allers said niggers could n't 
take keer demselves,) will be much oblige to dis chile. 

N. B. — Pussons huntin' for him will please look in all de "lass 
ditches," as I offen heern him tellin' about dyin' dar. 

'Specfuir submitted, Jim. 

The poster created a great deal of merriment in 



208 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

camp, wliile tlie residents thought Jim a very sassy 
nigger. 

Dan Boss and his Adventure. 

All railroad men know Dan Boss, of the Pittsburg, 
Fort Wayne, and Chicago Bailroad. Dan was in Louis- 
ville, on Government business, during the raid, with 
a lot of cars. Dan thought he would ride out a few 
miles on the Bardstown pike one fine afternoon, with a 
friend, and for this purpose hired a fine horse and 
buggy. Dan went out gaily, and in fine spirits, jok- 
ingly observing he was about to reconnoiter. Only 
ten miles from the city Dan was captured. The rebels 
demanded a surrender of all his personal efi"ects, which 
consisted of a rare lot of old passes over all the rail- 
roads in the United States, several "bottles," etc. Dan 
told them he was all right on the goose, and they 
told him to turn round and go back; upon which Dan 
was delighted, thinking he had deceived them, when 
he was accosted by several more of the gang, who 
wanted to try the speed of Dan's horse. Dan begged 
for the horse ; said it was n't his, to which the rebs 
replied, "Well! as it is not 'yourn,' why, we'll take 
care of it," and then drove ofi", leaving Dan and his 
friend to foot it home. 

Major Pic Russell 

Says that, on the march to Louisville from Hunts- 
ville, Ala., he met hundreds of stragglers from Bragg's 
army. One tall specimen of Secesh, going back to his 
Southern home, the Major halted. 

"Hallo!" said the Major, "where are you going?" 



A VISIT TO THE OUTPOSTS. 209 

The fellow looked at the Major very intently, and 
replied, " Home, sir," 

" Where do you live?" inquired Russell. 

" Lewis County, Alabama ! " 

"Why," said the Major, "you don't think you will 
ever be able to walk all that distance, do you ? " 

" Well, I do," was his response. " I tell you. Major, 
I would n't take Jive hundred dollars for Tny chanced 

The distance to his home was over seven hundred 
miles, through Kentucky, Tennessee, and Northern 
Alabama. 

The Major told me it was a common sight to see 
them trudging along, singing merrily, no doubt think- 
ing; of "Home, sweet home." 

A Visit to the Outposts with Gen. Jeff C. Davis. 

General Davis I found an active, intelligent gentle- 
man, with an eye denoting great determination, and 
very pleasing in his conversational powers ; always on 
the alert, leaving nothing to subordinates that he could 
do himself. The General's division commanded the 
Shelbyville pike. I spent two nights with Colonel 
Heg, ..who had a brigade occupying the most dangerous 
position. The 25th Illinois and 8th Kansas were in his 
brigade. 

Colonel Heg's regiment is mostly composed of Nor- 
wegians, or Scandinavians. They are generally from, 
and are known as the 15th Wisconsin ; are a splendid 
body of well-disciplined men, and all speak our lan- 
guage fluently. I heard an amusing anecdote of one 
of their captains, who, a short time since, took a lot of 
18 



210' INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

rebel prisoners. As this Norwegian captain liad them 
drawn up in line, he said to them, in broken English, 
and in accent very like the German : " Say, you fellers, 
you putternuts, I vant you all to schwear a leetle. It 
do you goot to schwear mit de Constitution. I schwear 
him tree year ago ; now you schwear him. Now, recol- 
lect, you schwear him goot ; no d — n nonsense. You 
schwear him, and keep him down, and not puke him 
up again!'' 

The 24th Illinois are close at hand, also the 8th 
Kansas. These boys are in view of the rebels every 
day. 

There is in the 24th Illinois Regiment a very clever 
officer who has an intolerably red nose. He says he 
can't '' help it; " he strives to temper it, but it is no go. 
A friend inquired of him, how much it cost to color it 
out here; his reply was, "$2.50 a canteen," 

The " rebs " played quite a trick upon the chaplain 
of the 24th Illinois. After they received his papers, 
they refused to send any in return. This would have 
been termed a nasty Yankee trick, had any of our boys 
committed such a breach of faith with them. But 
Buch is Southern honor. 

Eebel "Witticisms. 

The following is copied from the Chattanooga Rebel : 

If it is true that General Marmaduke hung the regi- 
ment of armed negroes at Helena, he certainly made 
a center shot at old Abe's emancipation-insurrection 
scheme; for he "knocked the black out" every time he 
hung a darkey. 



REBEL WITTICISMS. 211 

We do not know for certain that the price of ne- 
groes is going up ;. but there must have been a slight 
advance upon a regiment of them at Helena, the other 
day, if the wires were correct. 

Grant's permitting his dead soldiers to decay and 
create a stench around Vicksburg presents the worst 
feature of the Yankee die-nasty we have yet had to 
chronicle. 

Richmond papers announce that Hooker has again 
"changed his base." He took it out of the saddle 
awhile ago, to go and tell old Abe " how the thing 
was did." 

The soil of the South is becoming so fertilized with 
Yankee bodies, that we will be able to raise nothing 
but wooden nutmegs after the war. 

The " typos " of the Rebel suggest the necessity of the 
immediate return of Vallandigham, and our finishing 
up the Yankee raid on Vicksburg. Both exciting sub- 
jects cause too heavy a " run " on the capital "V" box. 

The Yankee officers who lead armed negroes against 
the Southern people will have " a high old time," for 
our boys will certainly hang them " as high as Haman." 

The Chicago Tribune says : " There are already 
twenty thousand colored troops in the Federal army." 
Does he mean the blue-bellied ones, or the black ones ? 

"Breakers ahead" for Yankee merchantmen/ The 
Alabama and Florida ! If they are not breakers to 
the ships, they will soon break all the ship-owners. 

The Yankee corpses lying around Vicksburg are 
becoming fetid as fast as the living ones are becoming 
cZe-feated. 



212 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

HiGHT Igo, ye Eccentric Quarter-master. 

Everybody in the Third Division of Crittenden's 
corps knows the Quarter-master of the 35th Indiana, 
Hight Igo; in fact, his fame is not confined to Gen- 
eral Van Cleve's division. No, sir ! not by any means ! 
His eccentricities are the theme of conversation from 
Triune to Stone River, from " Kripple Kreek" to 
Nashville. 

His first introduction to the favorable notice of high 
military authority occurred at Louisville. Shortly 
after the gallant 35th came into service, he stopped 
General "Wood one day in the streets of Louisville, to 
inquire upon the subject of " yarn socks." The Gen- 
eral informed him he never transacted business on the 
street, and suggested the propriety of calling at head- 
quarters. A short time after this the General met Igo 
on the street, and having heard something queer about 
Igo's forage account, requested information in regard 
thereto. Igo coolly remarked : " General, I never trans- 
act business on the street. You will please call at my 
quarters, when I shall be happy to afibrd you an in- 
sight into my afiairs." 

The next day a couple of the General's staff"-oflicer3 
called upon the incorrigible Igo, to investigate jnat- 
ters, and they investigated " in a horn." Igo remarked 
that, if they had waited until next morning to make 
their report, things would have worked ; but they fool- 
ishly went into the presence of the General imme 
diately upon their arrival; and when they reported 
" Quar-hic-termaster Igo's busi-ness all-hic-sound," the 
General " could n't see it," and dispatched another offi- 



YE ECCENTRIC QUARTER-MASTER. 213 

w 

cer, who could resist the blandishments of whisky-punch 
long enough to conduct the investigation. 

The result of this move was a rather tart request 
— from the Quarter-master- General's Department — for 
Lieutenant Igo to send all the papers belonging to 
his department to Washington, for adjustment; a re- 
quest which our friend complied with by heading up 
vouchers, receipts, requisitions, etc., in an ammunition- 
keg, with a letter stating that, inasmuch as the Depart- 
ment had a great many more clerks at its command 
than he had, and were probably better acquainted with 
the "biz" of making out quarterly reports or returns, 
they might be able to understand how things stood be- 
tween him and the Government; confessing, at the 
same time, that he '' could n't make head or tail out of 
the blasted figures." In due course of mail Igo re- 
ceived a communication from the Department, inform- 
ing him that if he did not immediately send in his 
report for the quarter ending on the 31st of October, 
he would find himself in Washington, under arrest. 
To this Igo answered thus : 

Sir — Yours of — date received. Contents noted. I have long 
been desirous of visiting the city of "magnificent distances," but 
have not hitherto been able to realize sufficient funds at any one 
time to gratify that desire ; I therefore gratefully avail myself of 
your obliging ofiFer to defray the expenses of my journey, and most 
respectfully suggest the propriety of your " going on with your rat- 
killing." I am, sir, your obedient servant, 

MARTIN IGO, 
Lieutenant and A. A. Q. M., 35th Ind. Vols. 

This closed Igo's official correspondence with the 
Department at Washington. He had the "good luck" 



214 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

to be captured by Morgan last fall, and, of course, 
Morgan destroyed all his papers. That struck a bal- 
ance for him for the quarter ending last October. He 
had another stroke of good fortune at Stone River, on 
the 1st of January, in having a wagon captured. Of 
course, all his papers were in that identical wagon. 
He was very indignant that a battle did not take place 
about the last of March, as that would have saved him 
a heap of trouble. Do not think, however, that our 
Quarter-master has done any thing that will not bear 
investigation, for a more honest or conscientious man 
is not to be found in the Quarter-master's Department; 
but Igo has a holy horror of vouchers and invoices, 
and receipts all in triplicate; and small blame to him 
for it. 

Fling out to the Breeze, Boys ! 

DiajICATED TO THE SECOND BRIGADE, SECOND DIVISION, M'COOK'S CORPS, 

BY W. A. OGDEN. 

Fling out to the breeze, boys, 

That old starry flag — 
Let it float as in days famed in story; 

For millions of stout hearts 

And bayonets wait, 
To clear its old pathway to glory. 

When the first wail of war 

That was heard on our shore 
Re-echoed with fierce promulgation, 

Columbia's brave sons 

Then rallied and fought. 
In defense of our glorious nation. 

From East, West, North, and South, 
Their numbers did pour, 
Alike seemed their courage and daring; 



FLING OUT TO THE BEEEZE, BOYS. 215 

While boldly they stood, 
As the fierce battle raged, 
Each nobly the proud contest sharing. 

Those patriots have passed — 

They now sleep 'neath the sod; 
But their flag shall be our flag forever! 

We '11 boldly march forward, 

And strike to the earth 
The fiends who it from us would sever. 

Hark! hark! from the South 

Comes a sound, deep and shrill — 
'Tis the sound of the cannon's deep rattlel 

Up! forward! brave boys, 

And beat back with a will 
The foe from the red field of battle. 

We'll rally and rally, • 

And rally again, 
To our standard now pennoned and flying; 

And we swear, 'neath its bright folds 

Of crimson and gold. 
To own it, though living or dying. 

Then fling to the breeze, boys. 

That dear, blood-bought flag — 
It must float as in days famed in story; 

For millions of stout hearts 

And bayonets wait. 
To clear its old pathway to glory. 



216 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 



CHAPTEE XXIII. 

Defense of the Conduct of the Gekman Regiments at Hartrvili.e — To 
THE Memory of Captain W. Y. Gholson — Colonel Toland vs. Contraband 
Whisky. 

Camp near Gallatin, Tenn., "t 
December 14, 1862. J 

After a careful investigation of the facts relative to 
the late fight' at Hartsville, having visited the battle- 
field, and having conversed with numeraus officers and 
privates who were wounded in that engagement, I am 
satisfied that gross injustice has been done the noble 
raw recruits of the 106th and 108th Ohio Eegiments. 
I am not biased in the least on account of their be- 
ing Cincinnati men, although I confess to a city pride; 
and I feel the greatest satisfaction in telling you that 
those regiments acted in the most heroic manner. That 
a few acted cowardly and shirked their duty, there is 
no doubt; but that the entire regiments should bear 
the blame is very hard. 

I notice the Louisville Journal is particularly severe 
on the men and officers ; and, also, that W. D. B. 
"pitches in," and terms them "Scott's Cowardly Brig- 
ade." 

W. D. B. goes into minutice in regard to Scott, who, 
he says, commanded. He is entirely mistaken. Scott, 



THE GERMAN EEGIMENTS AT HARTSVILLE. 217 

finding the place a dangerous one, requested, a week 
previously, to be allowed to rejoin his regiment, and 
his request was granted. The Scott who had command, 
and was relieved, belonged to Turchin's old regiment, 
and was their Lieutenant-Colonel. Scott told Colonel 
Moore of the dangers of the post, and Colonel Moore, 
feeling his weakness, protested against being left there. 
The fault lies beyond these new regiments. 

Why were three regiments of raw recruits placed in 
such a dangerous position, with but two guns and a 
handful of cavalry? As soon as the fight began, a 
courier was sent to Castilian Springs, a distance of only 
five miles, for reinforcements. The brigade was sent, 
but arrived too late. Instead of marching by column, 
on a double-quick, these men were deployed as skirm- 
ishers. The 106th and 108th Ohio and 104th Illinois 
held the ground for full two hours, until completely 
surrounded and driven to the brink of the river, where 
another large force of rebels awaited them. Yet these 
undisciplined men are called cowards^-these men, who 
bravely held the ground, against odds of three to one, 
against the disciplined rebels belonging to the 2d and 
9th Kentucky, and under the immediate command of 
Morgan ! Yet these men are to bear the disgrace and 
receive the anathemas of the press, in order to shield 
some imbecile officer ! 

I paid a visit to the hospital to-day, and I tell you 
it was a pitiable sight to see a large room crowded with 
the gallant wounded. They told me they did n't care 
for the wounds, but to be so maligned was more than 
they could bear. One noble fellow read the remarks 
of the Louisville Journal, and the big tears rolled 
19 



218 INCIDENTS OF THE "WAR. 

down his manly cheek, as he made the remark to me, 
" Good God ! is that all the thanks we get for fighting 
as we did? " 

Newspapers may publish what they please, but here 
is a fact that speaks loud in praise of the daring Ohio 
boys, and proves that the 106th and 108th fought 
well : it is, that Company G, of the 106th, lost every 
commissioned officer, two sergeants, one corporal, and 
twelve privates. I 

Colonel Moore, Lieutenant-Colonel Hapeman, and 
Major Wiedman refused to be paroled. 

Lieutenant Gessert, of the 106th, tells me he was 
present, a week since, when a colored boy came to Lieu- 
tenant Szabo, of the 106th, who was on picket. The 
boy stated that he overheard Morgan tell his master 
he was laying a plan to " capture them d — d Cincin- 
nati Dutch within three days." The boy was sent to 
head-quarters, where he repeated his story, but no no- 
tice was taken of it. 

To-day, Dr. Dyer, surgeon of the 104th Illinois, who 
went over the field directly after the fight, and assisted 
in dressing the wounds of our men, handed me a green 
seal ring belonging to Adjutant Gholson. The rebels 
had stripped the body of boots, coat and hat, and, fear- 
ing this ring would be taken, the Doctor placed it in 
his pocket. 

The Doctor says a rebel captain took a fancy to his 
(the Doctor's) hat, and insisted upon buying it — swore 
he would shoot him if he did n't sell it ; and told him 
he went in for raising the black flag on the d — d Yan- 
kees. 

The Doctor quietly went on with his w^ork, attending 



TO THE MEMORY OF CAPTAIN GHOLSON. 219 

to tlie wounded, while the rebel captain was robbing 
the dead. 

I telegraphed you in regard to Adjutant Gholson's 
death. He died heroically leading his command. His 
praise is upon every tongue. I will send his body home 
on to-day's train. Alf. 

The lines following are a touching tribute to the 
memory of one of the noblest young men sacrificed in 
the war. Captain Gholson was a brave, earnest, tal- 
ented, honorable man, in whose death his many friends 
feel a sorrowing pride : 

TO THE MEMORY OF CAPTAIN W. Y. GHOLSON. 

'Neath Western skies I 'm dreaming, 

This drear December morn, 
Of joys forever vanished, 

Of friendships rudely torn; 

Of the friend so lately taken 

From the heartless world away; 
Of the well-beloved warrior 

Now sleeping 'neatli the clay. 

The links of youthful friendship, 

Unsullied kept through years, 
Grim Death hath rudely shattered — 

Ay, dimmed by Memory's tears. 

Thou wilt be missed sincerely 

By the well-remembered band, 
Who 've proved, through endless changes, 

United heart and hand. 

Thy mother's pain and anguish 

Through life will never cease; 
The grief she's now enduring 

No earthly power can ease. 



220 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

A fatlier mourns the idol 

Which God hath taken home, 
Hath borne to sunnier regions, 

Where guardian spirits roam. 

And for the grieving sister. 

Whose joyous days are o'er. 
There coraetli gleams of sunshine 

From yonder golden shore. 

From the throne of God eternal, 

Where the angel roameth free, 
He speaketh words of music 

To parents dear, and thee. 

To friends and weeping kindred 
He speaketh words of cheer: 
"Be ye prepared to meet me. 
Prepared to meet me here." 

Lizzie A. F. 

Colonel Toland vs. Contraband Whisky. 

"Volunteer" told me a good story of one of the gal- 
lant 34tli Ohio and Colonel Toland. 

During their stay at Barboursville, the Colonel no- 
ticed, one day, an extraordinary number of intoxicated 
soldiers in camp. Where they obtained their whisky 
was a mystery to the command. The orders were very 
strict in regard to its prohibition. After considerable 
effort, the Colonel succeeded in finding out the guilty 
party. The culprit had a little log hut on the banks 
of the Guyandotte River, and was dealing it out with 
a profuseness entirely unwarranted. The Colonel sent 
his orderly for Corporal Minshall, of Company G. On 
Ills arrival, the Colonel said : 

" Corporal, you will take ten men, sir, and go to the 



COLONEL TOLAND VS. CONTRABAND WHISKY. 221 

whisky-cabin on the banks of the Gu3^andotte, seize all 
the whisky you find, and pour it out." 

"All right," said the Corporal; "your order will be 
obeyed forthwith." 

The Corporal got his men together, and ordered them 
to string all the canteens they could find around their 
necks. On arriving at the cabin, they seized upon and 
" poured out " the whisky. After a thorough loading-up, 
the Corporal returned and reported at head -quarters. 

" You poured it out, did you? " inquired the Colonel. 

"Yes, sir," categorically replied the Corporal. 

The Colonel noticed a canteen about the Corporal's 
neck, and thought he smelled something, and, looking 
him steadily in the face, repeated : 

" You poured it out, sir, did you ? " 

" Yes, sir," emphatically replied the Corporal. 

"And where did you pour it, sir?" 

"In our canteens. Colonel," he replied. 

For a moment his eyes flashed with anger; but, on 
second thought, the joke struck him as being too good, 
and the pleasant smile so characteristic of the Colonel 
wreathed his face in a moment. 

"Well, Corporal," continued he, "I suppose that is 
some of the ' poured-out ' in your canteen, eh ? " 

"Yes, sir," he replied, with the utmost sang froid, 
and, at the same time, gracefully disengaging the strap 
from his neck, said, "Won't you try some, Colonel?" 

"I don't care if I do," said the Colonel; whereupon 
he imbibed, saying, as he lowered the vessel, " Not a 
bad article — not a bad article ; but. Corporal, next time 
I send you to pour out whisky I will tell you where to 
pour it." 



222 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 



CHAPTEH XXIV. 

Wah and Eomance — Colonel Fred Jones — Hanging in the Armt — Genebal 
A. J. Smith vs. Dirty Guns. 

War and Eomance. 

During the late movement against Vicksburg the 
national transports were fired upon by a rebel battery 
at Skipwith Landing, not many miles from the mouth 
of the Yazoo. No sooner was the outrage reported at 
head-quarters than the Admiral sent an expedition to 
remove the battery and destroy the place. The work 
of destruction was effectually done ; not a structure 
which could shelter a rebel head was left standing in 
the region for several miles around. 

Among other habitations destroyed was that of a 
Mrs. Harris, a widow lady, young, comely, and pos- 
sessed of external attractions in the shape of a hundred 
and fifty " negroes," which she had contrived to save 
from the present operation of " the decree," by sending 
them up the Yazoo River. But Mrs. Harris was a 
rebel — intense, red-hot in her advocacy of Southern 
rights and her denunciation of Northern wrongs. Al- 
though she had not taken up arms against the Gov- 
ernment, she was none the less subject to the in dis- 
criminating swoop of the Proclamation; her niggers, 



WAR AND ROMANCE. 223 

according to that document, were free, and if the Con- 
federacy failed, she could only get pay for them by 
establishing her loyalty in a court of justice. Her loy- 
alty to the Yankee nation ? — not she ! She was spunky 
as a widow of thirty can be. She would see Old Abe, 
and every other Yankee, in the happy land of Canaan 
before she would acknowledge allegiance to the Wash- 
ington Government. Nevertheless, being all she pos- 
sessed of this world's valuables, she would like to save 
those niggers. 

" Nothing easier," suggested Captain Edward W. 
Sutherland, of the United States steam-ram Queen of 
the West, who, attracted by her snapping black eyes, 
engaged in a friendly conversation with the lady after 
burning her house down. " Nothing easier in the world, 
madam," 

" How so. Captain ? You do n't imagine I will take 
that odious oath, do you ? I assure you I would not 
do it for every nigger in the South." 

"But you need not take that oath, madam — at least 
not the oath." 

" I do not understand you, Captain," said the widow, 
thoughtfully. 

"I said you need not take the oath of allegiance; 
you can establish your loyalty without it — at least," 
with a respectful bow, " I can establish it for you." 

" Indeed ! How would you do it, Captain ? " 

" Simply enough. I am in the Government service ; 
I command one of the boats of the Western navy — 
technically denominated a ram, madam — down here in 
the river. Of course, my loyalty is unimpeached, and, 
madam, I assure you it is unimpeachable. Now, if I. 



224 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

could only say to the Government, those niggers are 
mine " 

The Captain waited a moment, to see what effect his 
speech was producing. 

"Well!" said the widow, impatiently tapping with 
her well-shaped foot one of the smoking timbers of her 
late domicile. 

" In short, my dear madam, you can save the nig- 
gers, save your conscientious scruples, and save me from 
a future life of misery, by becoming my wife ! " 

The Captain looked about wildly, as if he expected a 
sudden attack from guerrillas. The widow tapped the 
smoldering timber more violently for a few minutes, 
and then, turning her bright eyes full upon the Captain, 
said : 

"I'll do it!" 

The next arrival at Cairo from Vicksburg brought the 
intelligence that Captain Sutherland, of the ram Queen 
of the West, was married, a few days since, on board 
the gunboat Tylor, to Mrs. Harris, of Skipwith Landing. 
Several officers of the army and navy were present to 
witness the ceremony, which was performed by a Meth- 
odist clergyman, and Admiral Porter gave away the 
blushing bride. She is represented to be a woman of 
indomitable pluck, and, for the present, shares the life 
of her husband, on the ram Queen of the West. 

Colonel Feed Jones. 

I was with him on his last trip from Cincinnati to 
Louisville, and from thence to the army. Little did I 
think it was the last meeting. Noble Fred ! He has 
left a name that will never be erased from honor's 



COLONEL FRED JONES. 225 

Bcroll. A writer in the Cincinnati Commercial, who 
knew him from boyhood np, says: 

" Pie is a native of this city, and favorably known 
as one of onr most brilliant young men. 

" Colonel Jones was a graduate of Woodward High 
School, of this city, receiving his diploma, with the 
highest honor of his class, in 1853. He then entered 
the law-office of Eufus King, Esq. as a student, and 
evinced, in the pursuit of a legal education, a remark- 
able zeal and talent. Two years ago he was elected 
Prosecuting- Attorney of the Police Court, which office 
he held at the breaking out of the war, in 1861. It 
was but a few days after the first call for troops, when 
he threw his business into the hands of a brother law- 
yer, and became a soldier. He was first an adjutant 
to General Bates, but, in June, 1861, he received a lieu- 
tenant-colonel's commission in the 31st Ohio, with which 
he went into active service. He was afterward trans- 
ferred, with the same rank, to the 24th Ohio, of which 
regiment he became colonel in May last. 

'' He distinguished himself at the Battle of Shiloh, 
to which, indeed, he owed his promotion. He enjoyed 
the highest reputation with his superiors as an officer. 

"Colonel Jones was about twenty-seven years of age, 
of fine appearance, with a peculiarly happy manner and 
disposition. He was a very fine extempore orator, and 
possessed great military ardor from childhood. The 
writer, a iSellow-student, remembers him as captain of a 
company of school-boys, at Woodward, which, drilling 
for pastime, became very proficient in tactics. 

'' We can pay no more eloquent tribute to his memory 
than the mute impression his history will impart. He 



226 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

is dead ! Our city has offered no heavier sacrifice in any 
of her sons, and parted with no purer of the jewels 
which have been so rudely torn from her." 



Hanging in the Army. 

} 



Head-quarters 3d Division, 14th Armt Corps 
MuRFKEESBORO, June 6, 1863. 



William A. Selkirk, who resided in an adjoining 
county, murdered, in a most brutal manner, a man by 
the name of Adam Weaver. Selkirk was a member of 
a roving band of guerrillas. He entered, with others, 
the house of Weaver, who was known to have money, 
and demanded its surrender. Weaver, not complying, 
was seized, his ears cut off, his tongue torn out, and 
he was then stabbed. These facts being proved to the 
court, Selkirk was condemned to death. 

At twelve o'clock, yesterday, the crowd commenced 
congregating at the Court-house, eyeing with curiosity 
a large, uncovered ambulance, in which was built a plat- 
form. The trap was a leaf, acting as a sort of tail- 
board to the wagon. This trap, or leaf, was supported 
by a strip of wood that ran into a notch, similar to the 
old figure-four trap. Attached to the ambulance were 
six splendid horses. At one o'clock two regiments of 
infantry, under Colonel Stoughton, arrived upon the 
ground and formed in line. The ambulance and mili- 
tary then moved along to the jail; the rough wooden 
cofiin was placed in the vehicle, and the prisoner then, 
for the first time, made his appearance. He had a 
pale and care-worn look, and a decidedly Southern air. 
His step was firm, and he got into the wagon with but 



HANGING IN THE ARMY. 227 

little assistance. He was accompanied by Father Cony, 
chaplain of the 35th Indiana. The procession then 
moved off toward the gallows, erected a short distance 
from the town, upon the "Woodbury pike. The eager 
crowd thronged the avenues leading to the place of 
execution — rushing, crushing, cursing and swearing, 
laughing and yelling. Samuel Lover, the Irish poet, 
describes, in his poem of " Shamus O'Brien," a hang- 
ing, thus : 

"And fasther and fasther the crowd gathered there, 
Boys, horses, and gingerbread, just like a fair; 

And whisky was sellin', and 'cosamuck' too. 

And old men and young women enjoying the view; 

And thousands were gathered there, if there was one, 
Waiting till such time as the hanging would come." 

The morbid appetite depicted upon that sea of up- 
turned faces was terrible to think of. 

By the kindness of Colonel Stoughton, I was given 
a very prominent place in the procession. 

General Order No. 123, from head-quarters, was 
read. The prisoner then knelt, and was baptized by the 
clergyman before mentioned. After the baptism was 
over. Rev. Mr. Patterson, of the 11th Michigan, made 
a most fervent and eloquent prayer, the prisoner on 
his knees, with eyes uplifted to heaven, and seemingly 
praying with all the fervor of his soul. After Mr. 
Patterson had finished praying, the prisoner was told 
he had five minutes to live, and to make any remarks 
he wished. Selkirk arose, with steady limbs, and said : 

" Gentlemen and friends : I am not guilty of the 
murder of Adam Weaver; I did not kill him. I hope 
you will all live to one day find out who was the 



228 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

guilty man. I believe my Jesus is waiting to receive 
my poor soul. I am not guilty of Weaver's murder. 
I was there, but did not kill him." 

He then knelt down and joined in prayer. After 
prayer was over, he stood up, and stepped on the scaf- 
fold again, to have the fatal rope placed around his 
neck. While the rope was being adjusted, he prayed 
audibly, and his last words on earth were : 

"Sweet Jesus, take me to thyself. 0, Lord, forgive 
me for all my sins;" and again, as the person who 
escorted him was tightening the rope, he said, "For 
God's sake don't choke me before I am hung." Then, 
when the black cap was drawn over his eyes, he seemed 
to know that in a few seconds he would be consigned to 
"that bourne from whence no traveler returns," and 
said, " Lord, have mercy on my soul." 

The words were scarcely uttered, when that which 
was, a few moments before, a stout, healthy man, was 
nothing but an inanimate form. As the "black cap" 
was about being put on him, Sarah Ann Weaver, the 
youngest daughter of the murdered man, Adam Weaver, 
made her appearance inside the square, and quite close 
to the scaffold. She asked Captain Goodwin and Major 
Wiles the privilege of adjusting the rope around his 
neck, but they would not grant it. She is a young 
woman of about seventeen years, rather prepossessing 
and intelligent looking. She stood there unmoved, 
while the body hung dangling between heaven and 
earth. She seemed to realize that the murderer of her 
father had now paid the penalty with his life. I asked 
her what she thought of the affair, and she curtly re- 
marked; "He will never murder another man, I think." 



GENERAL A. J. SMITH VS. EUSTY GUNS. 229 

After the body had remained about fifteen minutes 
swinging in the air, and surgeon Dorr pronounced life 
extinct, it was cut down and put in a coffin. The 
assembhige departed, some Lxughing, some crying, and 
some thinliing of the fate of the deceased. 

General A. J. Smith vs. Eusty Guns. 

Last winter General Smith's head-quarters were on 
board the steamer Des Arc; he was in command of 
a division of Grant's army. One day, on a trip from 
Arkansas Post to Young's Point, there were on this 
boat three companies of a nameless regiment. Now it 
happened that these men had rather neglected to clean 
their guns, which the sharp eye of the old veteran soon 
discovered. It was in the morning of our third day 
out, the wind was blowing terribly, and the weather 
unusually cold, rendering it very unpleasant to remain 
long on the hurricane-roof, that the General came 
rushing into the cabin, where nearly all the ofiicers 
were comfortably seated around a warm stove. 

" Captain," exclaimed the General, in no very mild 
tone, addressing himself to the commander of one of 
the aforesaid companies, " have you had an inspection 
of arms this morning?" 

" No, General," timidly replied the Captain, '' I have 
not." 

" Have you held an inspection of your company at 
any time since the battle of Arkansas Post, sir ? " 
sharply asked the General. 

" No, sir ; the weather has been so unpleasant, and 
I thought I would let my men rest awhile," hesitat- 



230 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

ingly replied the Captain, already nervous, tlirough 
fear, that something disagreeable was about to turn up. 

" You thought you 'd let them rest awhile ? Indeed ! 
The d — 1 you did ! Who pays you, sir, for permitting 
your men to lay and rot in idleness, while such im- 
portant duties remain unattended to? What kind of 
condition are your arms in, now, to defend this boat, 
or even the lives of your own men, in case we should 
be attacked by the enemy this moment ? What the 
d — 1 are you in the service for, if you thus neglect 
your most important duty ? " fairly yelled the old Gen- 
eral. And then, starting menacingly toward the quak- 
ing captain, said he, imperatively: 

" Mount, sir, on that roof, this moment, and call 
your men instantly into line, that I may examine their 
arms." 

''And you," resumed he, turning to the lieutenants, 
who commanded the other companies, "are fully as 
delinquent as the captain. Sirs ! I must see your men 
in line within ten minutes." 

It is scarcely necessary to state that the officers in 
question made the best of their time in drumming up 
their men, whom they found scattered in all parts of 
the boat. Finally, however, the companies referred to 
were duly paraded on the "hurricane," and an abridged 
form of inspection was gone through with. The Gen- 
eral, finding their arms in bad condition, very naturally 
inflicted some severe talk, threatening condign punish- 
ment in case such neglect should be repeated. 

But during the time in which one of these compa- 
nies was falling in, which operation was not executed 
with that degree of promptness, on the part of the 



GENEEAL A. J. SMITH VS. RUSTY GUNS. 231 

rank and file, satisfactory to the lieutenant command- 
ing, that officer called out, in a most imploring strain, 
" Fall in, gentlemen ! Fall in, lively, . gentlemen ! " 
That application of the word "gentlemen" fell upon 
the ear of General Smith, who, turning quickly around, 
hastily inquired : 

"Are you the lieutenant in command of that com- 
pany, sir?" addressing the individual who had given 
the command in such a polite manner. 

" Yes, sir," replied the trembling subaltern. 

" Then, who the d — 1 are you calling gentlemen ? " 
cried the General. " I am an old soldier," continued 
he, approaching and looking more earnestly at the 
lieutenant, " but I must confess, sir, that I never be- 
fore heard of the rank of gentleman in the army. 
Soldiers, sir, are all supposed to be gentlemen, of 
course; but, hereafter, sir, when you address soldiers, 
remember to say soldiers, or men ; let us have no more 
of this ' bowing and scraping ' where it is your duty to 
command." 

Then, turning upon his heel, his eyes snapping with 
impatience, the old gentleman gave vent to the fol- 
lowing words : 

^'Gentlemen ! gentlemen, forsooth ! And rusty guns I 
Umph ! The d — 1 ! I like that ! Eusty guns ! and 
gentlemen ! " 



232 INCIDENTS OP THE WAR. 



CHAPTEE XXV. 



A Trip into the Enemy's Country — The Rebels twice driven back by Gen- 
eral Steadman — Incidents of the Charge of thf, 1st Tennessee Cavalry, 
UNDER Major Tracy — The 35th and 9th Ohio in the Fight— Colonel Moodt 
AND the TIth Ohio — Colonel Moody on the Battle-field. 



A Teip into the Enemy's Country. 

Triune, Tennessee, 
March 8, 1863 



.} 



After a four-days' trip, without tents, we are once 
more in camp. Last Tuesday afternoon General Stead- 
man ordered Colonel Bishop, of the 2d Minnesota, to 
take his regiment, a section of the 4th E-egular Bat- 
tery, under Lieutenant Stevenson, and six hundred of 
Johnson's 1st East Tennessee Cavalry, .and proceed 
forthwith to Harpeth Biver. Anticipating a fight, I 
went with the detachment. As we passed through 
Nolinsville and Triune the few butternut inhabitants 
gazed with apparent envy at our well-clad soldiers. 
About nine o'clock at night we reached the river. 
Here the infantry bivouacked for the night; the artil- 
lery planted their pieces in eligible positions, while the 
cavalry crossed the river and commenced to search for 
rebel gentry who were supposed to be on short *leave 
of absence at their homes. Quite a number of citizen 
soldiers were thus picked up. Major Tracy, of the 



A TEIP INTO THE ENEMy's COUNTRY. 233 

cavalry, then proceeded, with a dozen men, to the resi- 
dence of General Starnes, and surrounded it, hoping to 
find the General at home. But the bird had flown the 
day previous. The Major, however, /being a searching 
man, and full of inquiry, looked under the beds, and in 
the closets, and asked who was up-stairs. " No one," 
was the reply, " but my brother, and he has never been 
in the army." Major Tracy took a candle, went up, 
saw the young man, and asked where the man had 
gone who had been in bed with him. The young man 
protested no one had been there^ and Mrs. Starnes 
pledged her word, on the "lionor of a Southern lady," 
that there was no one else in the house. But Tracy 
turned down the sheets, and, being a discerning man, 
discovered the imprint of another person in the bed, 
and, from the distance they had slept apart, he felt 
sure it was not a woman. So telling Mrs. S. he 
had n't much faith in the honor of a Southern wo- 
man, under such circumstances, he thought he would 
take a peep through a dormer-window that projected 
from the roof; there, sure enough, sat Major Starnes, 
a son of the rebel general, in his shirt-tail, breeches 
and boots in hand, afraid to stir. It was a bitter cold 
night, and the poor fellow shook like an aspen leaf. He 
presented at once a pitiable yet ludicrous aspect. After 
collecting some twenty or thirty horses, they returned 
to their head-quarters, this side of the river. At night, 
not relishing the thought of sleeping on a rail, I had 
the good fortune of sharing a bed with Lieutenant 
Stevenson, who commanded the battery. 

As we anticipated, an early "reveille of musketry" 
awoke the party, and mounting my sorrel Eosenante, I 
20 



234 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

proceeded to investigate " why we do these things," or 
to learn what the quarrel is all about. Crossing the 
river, I caught up with Major Tracy just as he was 
returning from his expedition to General Starnes's 
house. It was about eight o'clock as we came in sight 
of College Grove, a little village about a mile beyond 
Harpeth River. Here we turned toward Triune, and 
had left College Grove half a mile to the rear, when we 
heard the rebels firing upon a few stragglers of the 
Tennessee Cavalry. Major Tracy promptly counter- 
marched his battalion, which was in the rear, and 
double-quicked back to the school-house at the town, 
and within a hundred yards of the rebel cavalry, who 
were drawn up in a line, in the front and rear of some 
houses, on the right of the road. The Major, seeing 
they outnumbered him two to one, halted, and sent 
word back to Major Burkhardt to reinforce. He then 
formed a line of battle across the road, awaitins; the 
other battalion. Just as it arrived, Major Tracy thought 
he saw signs of wavering in the rebel line, and imme- 
diately ordered Squadron E to "Forward, by platoons ! 
Double-quick ! Charge ! " and galloping to the front, 
along with Lieutenant Thurman, away they go. The 
rebels waver, break, and now comes the chase. The 
Major gains upon their rear, and brings rebel No. 1 
to the dust, by the aid of a Smith & Wesson revolver. 
The Major, now wild with excitement, threw his cap in 
the air, and, hallooing for the boys to follow, continued 
the chase. The race was fully a three-mile heat, in 
which we captured fifty-nine rebels. Thirteen were 
wounded hy the saber, four very severely. There were 
not more than fifteen or twenty of our men close on 



A TRIP INTO THE ENEMY's COUNTRY. 235 

their rear at one time, and as the rebels turned out on 
the roadside to surrender, the Tennessee boys never 
stopped to make sure of them, but yelled to them to 
drop their guns and dismount, and if they stirred be- 
fore they returned, they would murder them. After 
going as far as the few thought it safe, they returned 
to camp, bringing the prisoners, horses, and various 
implements of warfare, "sich" as fine English shot- 
guns and the like. 

This was certainly one of the most gallant affairs of 
the season, and may be considered among the most suc- 
cessful charges of the war ; for, while not a man of ours 
was injured, fifty-nine rebels were taken, and I saw 
more saber cuts that day than any time since I have 
been with the army. 

At noon, General Steadman arrived with the 35th 
and 9th Ohio, together with another section of battery, 
under Lieutenant Smith, commanding Company I, 4th 
Regular Artillery, and the whole brigade moved at once 
across the river, and marched out in search of the 
enemy. We soon came upon their picket-fires, the 
pickets having skedaddled. We rested for the night 
at Rio-ofs's Cross-roads, and continued the march in the 
morning. By nine o'clock we met the rebels, drawn up 
in line of battle, about a mile north of Chapel Hill. The 
Tennessee Cavalry were in the advance; General Stead- 
man and staff occupied the crest of a hill, in full view 
of the rebels, and where we all could see the movements 
of the butternuts; the 9th Ohio arriving, was immedi- 
ately deployed to the right, the 2d Minnesota and 35th 
Ohio and 87th Indiana to the left, the battery taking 
the center. The rebels, consisting of two thousand five 



236 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

hundred of Van Dorn's forces, ran lielter skelter tlirough. 
Chapel Hill, and turned to the left — the Tennessee Cav- 
alry again proving their valor by sabering half a dozen 
of the 7th Alabamians. The rebels, as they retreated 
across Spring Creek, formed a line, and gave us a brisk 
little brush; but our men steadily advanced, driving 
them back, and, crossing the creek, were in their late 
camp. "We skirmished and drove them some three miles 
beyond the river, and found we were within one mile of 
Duck Ptiver, eleven miles within and beyond their line. 
Not knowing what forces might come to their aid, the 
General did not further pursue them ; but, on return- 
ing, we destroyed their camp, setting fire to all the 
houses and large sheds they had been using for shelter. 
A church, among the rest, was destroyed, as it had been 
used by rebel officers for head- quarters. On the return, 
a great many colored men, women, and children begged 
to be allowed to come with us. 

To-day, (the 8th,) Sabbath devotions were disturbed 
by General Steadman ordering the 35th Ohio and a sec- 
tion of battery, under Lieutenant Rodney, of the 4th 
Artillery, to feel the rebels at Harpeth; so again I 
thought I might catch an item, and went to the front. 
The impudent scamps had crossed, and were within 
four miles of our camp. The Tennessee Cavalry drove 
them back across the river. The rebels occupied a hill 
on the opposite side, adjoining the residence of Doctor 
Webb. After several little brushes by cavalry, our 
artillery opened upon the line formed by two thousand 
six hundred rebels, under Patterson and Roddy, of Van 
Dorn's division, who were supported by two regiments 
of infantry. They stood but two rounds from the 



COLONEL MOODY AND TEE 74tH OHIO. 237 

Napoleons, before moving off in disorder. Our line ad- 
vanced, when, much to our astonishment, the rebels 
opened up a battery from in front of Doctor Webb's 
house, which was sharply replied to by Lieutenant Eod- 
ney, who sent his compliments to the " gay and festive 
cusses," inclosed in a twelve-pounder, and directed to 
Doctor Webb's house ; it was safely delivered, as we saw 
it enter the house. Again their four-pounder belched 
forth, and one of their shots fell directly in front of 
the 35t^i Ohio ambulance, but luckily it did not burst. 
After holding our position four hours, and driving the 
rebels back to their dens, we returned to camp. 

Colonel Moody and the 74th Ohio. 

In the figlit at Murfreesboro, General Rosecrans 
said the 74th Ohio behaved nobly. After General Mc- 
Cook's right had been turned, the whole rebel force 
came agaiaist General Negley's division, to which this 
regiment belongs. After the 37th Indiana had retired, 
it being terribly cut up, the 74th was ordered to take 
its place amid such a shower of shot and shell as has 
scarcely fallen during the war. 

This regiment did not leave its position until an 
order came from Colonel Miller, commanding the brig- 
ade; then, slowly and stubbornly, it came from that 
well-fought field, leaving many of its members, "who 
never shall fight again," dead upon it. On the Fri- 
day following that bloody Wednesday, they were "in 
at the death," in the triumphant charge of our left. Its 
commander, Colonel Moody, is "the fighting Parson" 
of the Cumberland Army. Calmly and steadily he led 



238 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

his men into tlie seven -times heated furnace of battle, 
and, 

"As the battle din, 
Came rolling in, 

his voice of cheer and encouragement was heard above 
its roar. Just before they came into the whi;!5zing 
storm, he said : " Say your prayers, my boys, and give 
them your bullets as fast as you can." A conspicuous 
mark, he was struck by balls in three places, and his 
horse shot from under him ; but he took no notice of 
the hits. Once, during the thickest of the fight, he 
rode along the line, and was cheered by his men even 
in the roar of battle. 

Side by side with Colonel Moody rode, during both 
battles, the gallant Major Bell, the new field-officer of 
this regiment. Ohio's 74th is justly proud that she has 
the experience of a gray -headed Colonel united with the 
"dash" of a young Major. This regiment has won for 
itself a place among the "crack" regiments of our 
army; and General Eosecrans told it to-day that he 
would have to call it " the fighting regiment." 

Colonel Moody on the Battle-field. 

The Ohio Statesman, speaking of Colonel Moody at 
the late battle at Murfreesboro, has the following : 

"Colonel Moody has been so long accustomed to 
'charge home' upon the rebellious 'hosts of sin,' from 
the pulpit, that he finds himself in no uncongenial 
position in charging bayonet upon the rebellious hosts 
of Davis and the Devil upon the battle-field. And, as 
in the former position he ever acquitted himself right 



COLONEL MOODY ON THE BATTLE-FIELD. 239 

valiantly, so, in this latter position, he is equally heroic 
and unconquerable. 

" His escape from death in the late fight was so won- 
derful as to seem clearly Providential. His friends and 
members of his church in Cincinnati had presented him 
with a pair of handsome revolvers. One of these he 
wore in the breast of his coat during the fight. A par- 
tially-spent Minie-ball had struck him on the breast, 
pierced his coat, and, striking the butt of his pistol, 
splintered it to pieces directly over his heart, hut went 
710 further. The stroke was so violent as to hurl him 
from his horse by the concussion, and he lay, for a 
moment, insensible. Consciousness soon returned, and, 
mounting his horse, he raged on through the battle 
like an enraged lion. He won the most hearty con- 
gratulations from General Eosecrans himself. So much 
for having one's life saved by a bosom friend." 



240 INCIDENTS OF THE WAE. 



CHAPTER XXVI. 

A 'Weddino in the Army — A Bill of Fare in Camp — Dishonest Female Reb— 
Private Cupp — To the 13th Ohio. 

A Wedding in the Aemy, 

And, as it is from the pen of the worthy Chaplain, 
J. H. Lozier, it is perfectly reliable. 

About as pleasant and romantic a wedding as any- 
body ever saw, lately took place in this department. 
Immediately after the battle, a soldier of the 15th 
Indiana took sick, from exposure in the fight, and 
was taken to Hospital No. 5. Among the attendants 
there was a pretty little " Yankee girl," whose charms 
occasioned an affliction of the heart which baffled the 
skill of all the doctors, and they were compelled to call 
for the services of the chaplain. 

There are obstructions in " the course of true love," 
even in Tennessee, and one of these was the difficulty 
of procuring "the papers," as there was no clerk's 
office in the county, or, at least, no clerk to attend to 
the office. Again were the resources of the General 
commanding brought into requisition, and again did he 
prove himself "equal to the emergency." The follow- 
ing document, authorized by General Eosecrans, dicta- 
ted by General Garfield, and promulgated by Major 



A WEDDING IN THE ARMY. 241 

"Wiles, sliows how men get licenses to- marry in those 
counties in this department where martial law alone 
exists : 

State of Tennessee, "| ^ 

' V Greeting: 
Rutherford County. J 

To any person empoioered by law to perform marriage in Tennessee : 

You are hereby authorized to join together in marriage Joseph A. 
Hamilton and Francillia L. Bean, and this shall be your authority 
for so doing. 

Witness my hand and official seal of the Provost-Marshal-Gene- 
ral, Department of the Cumberland. 

,_^ WILLIAM M. WILES, 

-^ L. s. I Major 44th Indiana, and ProA-ost-Marshal-General, 

^-'^^ Department of the Cumberland. 

State of Tennessee, "i 
Rutherford County. / 

Be it remembered that, on this 12th day of May, A. D. 1863, per- 
sonally appeared before me, Major William M. Wiles, Provost-Mar- 
shal-General, Department of the Cumberland, one W. T. Mendenhall, 
Assistant Surgeon of Hospital No. 5, of lawful age, who, being duly 
sworn, on oath says that he is acquainted with Joseph A. Hamilton 
and Francillia L. Bean; that said parties are of legal age to mar^, 
without the consent of their parents or guardians, and that he 
knows of no lawful reason why said parties should not marry. 
[Signed] W. T. MENDENHALL. 

Subscribed and sworn to this 12th day of May, A. D. 1863. 

WILLIAM M. WILES, 
Major and Provost-Marshal-General, Department of 



{-} 



the Cumberland. 



Now, therefore, I, William M. Wiles, Major of 44th Indiana Vol- 
unte^s, and Provost-Marshal-General, Department of the Cumber- 
land, in consideration of the fact that this county has been placed 
under military law, and civil courts and laws, with their officers, 
are not in existence, do empower John Hogarth Lozier, a regularly 
ordained minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Chaplaia 

21 ■ 



212 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

of the 37th Regiment of Indiana Volunteers, to join in Holy Matri- 
vionij the above-named parties, and this shall be his full and proper 
autliority for so doing. 

Given thie 12th day of May, A. D., 1863. Witness my hand and 
seal, the day and year above mentioned, W. M. WILES, 

Major and Provost-Marshal-General, Department of 
the Cumberland. 



{^] 



Accordingly the liappy pair, together with a large 
concourse of officers and soldiers, and a delightful sprink- 
ling of pretty Northern belles, met on the battle-field, 
in a grove on the banks of Stone River, on the precise 
spot where the bridegroom, with his regiment, the noble 
15th Indiana, fought on the memorable 31st of Decem- 
ber. A large, flat rock stood up prominently, and upon 
this the bride and groom, with their attendants, and 
the chaplain, took their position, while an eager throng 
gathered around to witness the interesting ceremony. 
After announcing the "license," as above given, the 
chaplain asked the usual questions as to "objections." 
There was a moment's silence, in which, if any man had 
dared to object, he would have done so at the peril of 
an immediate " plunging bath " in Stone River, for the 
boys were determined to see the ceremony completed. 
The chaplain then proceeded, in solemn and impressive 
tones, to perform the ceremony, at the conclusion of 
which they dropped upon their knees, and a solemn 
invocation being uttered, they arose, and having pro- 
nounced them husband and wife, he introduced them 
to the audience. Then followed a rare scene of unre- 
strained social enjoyment. The mingling of shoulder- 
straps with plain "high-privates," and of "stars" with 
"stripes," was truly refreshing. We observed three 



A WEDDING IN THE ARMY. 243 

Major-Generals, McCook, Crittenden, and Jolmson, be- 
sides any amount of " lesser lights," among the crowd. 

I see, by a late Chattanooga Rebel, that the editor of 
that "delectable sheet" is in grief because he has been 
told that Miss Fannie Jorden, who resides near our 
camp, is about to marry Captain Kirk, of General 
Steadman's staff. The Rebel says : " We are sorry to 
hear that the niece of the gallant Colonel Eayne has so 
far forgotten herself as to engage to marry one of the 
'Lincoln horde.' " 

We have had the pleasure of meeting Miss Fannie 
upon several occasions. She is a very nice young lady, 
and is not aware of any such engagement. Captain Kirk 
is pretty good-looking; but, we rather guess he is not on 
the right side of Jorden this time. If the young lady 
marries, 'tis more likely she will emigrate to Minne- 
sota than Ohio. We sincerely hope our neighbor of 
the Rebel will not have cause to "come to grief." He 
had better mind his own business, and let the soldiers 
here attend to the " Union " unmolested. 

A strange family feud, quite " Corsican" in its char- 
acter, came to light some time ago, while we were at 
Cunningham's Ford. 

There were two families, Bently by name, residing 
there. These brothers had not spoken to each other 
for forty years. They nor their families have had any 
intercourse whatever; never recognizing each other, 
though they had resided side by side, farms adjoining. 
One could not go to church, or meeting of any kind, 
or to town, without passing his brother. While we 
were there, the elder brother died, and he was buried 
by his children. The other family knew nothing of it, 



244 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

until told by our soldiers. The cause of the estrange- 
ment was, that, in dividing the land left them, more 
than forty years ago, one claimed the line was drawn 
some ten feet too far south, thus losing to the other 
about six acres of ground, the value, at that time, being 
about twenty-five cents per acre. This feud is now an 
inheritance, we suppose, to be handed down forever. 
Can't you send out a missionary? 

Those who can afford it are now enjoying in camp 
all the luxuries of the season. I received an invitation 
to dine out yesterday. The following bill of fare was 
partaken of in a beautiful arbor: 

BILL OF FARE. 

Mock Turtle Soup. 

Turkey. Roast Beef. 

Ham and Eggs. Roast Mutton, with Currant Jelly. 

Radishes. Lettuce. Onions and Potatoes. 

Custard. Lemon Pies. Pound Cake. Jellies. 

The whole concluding with elegant "Mint Juleps," with straws 
in them. 

In the 1st Brigade, under Colonel Connell, each com- 
pany has a large brick cooking-range erected, and their 
system is really worthy of emulation. This entire divi- 
sion is supplied with fine fresh bread every day. The 
division baker has three Cincinnati bake-ovens, from 
which he turns out from three to five hundred loaves 
a day, besides pies innumerable. It is under the fore- 
manship of Mr. John Wakely, a well-known Cincinnati 
baker. _ This arrangement is a great saving to the Gov- 
ern ment in the way of transportation, etc. 

I heard a first-rate story, which, although it did not 
occur in this division, is too good to lose. A private 



DISHONEST FEMALE REB. 245 

soldier, named Cupp, who is a German, belonging to 
the 1st Missouri Cavalry, and now one of the body- 
guard of General Granger, was out to the front a few 
days ago, and seeing a "stray rebel," ''made for him." 
The chase commenced — away went Mr. Eeb and Cupp. 
Having the fleetest horse, Cupp gained upon him rap- 
idly, crying, "Halt! halt! halt!" every leap his horse 
would make. But the rebel, bent on getting away, 
heeded not the call. At length the Dutchman reached 
his rear, and, swinging his saber heavily over his 
head, charged the rebel, and brought him to a '^ dead 
stand." 

"Ah ha!" said the now excited Cupp, "how you 
vass all de viles ? D — n you, anoder time I hollers 
halt I speck you stop a leetle, uut not try to fool mit 
me so long, you d — d rebel." 

Dishonest Female Eeb. 

A rebel sympathizer and his wife, a cross-eyed speci- 
men of the genus homo, came within our lines and 
delivered themselves up, to be where they could get 
something to eat. Captain Parshall, of the 35th Ohio, 
being Provost-Marshal of Triune, and supposing them 
honest refugees, endeavored to secure comfortable quar- 
ters for the woman at the house of Dr. Williams. Dr. 
Williams is a stanch Union man, and willing to do all 
in his power for suffering humanity. The Doctor told 
the Captain that the lady was welcome, but that his 
wife was away from home. 

Captain Parshall had kindly provided quarters for 
the husband who, as he was about going, gazed 



246 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

cautiously around, and eyed the Doctor from head to 
foot, then looked at the woman with an "affectionate" 
stare, and, with a long-drawn sigh, exclaimed: 

" Well, Doctor, I guess I '11 risk her with you." 

In about an hour the Captain was startled with the 
sudden appearance of Doctor Williams, much excited, 
who begged that he would have that woman taken 
away, right off, as she was a thief. 

The Captain went over immediately, and interrogated 
the woman, but she stoutly denied the charge. The 
Captain, however, noticed a very heavy bust where a 
bust should n't be with so hatchet-faced a woman, and 
asked her what she had in her bosom. 

She replied, that was common with her " every 
grass ; " but the Captain " could n't see it," and indeli- 
cately placed his masculine fingers within the sacred 
precincts, and drew forth two children's dresses, one 
from each side; finding she was fairly caught, she beg- 
ged for mercy; said she didn't know what "possessed 
her," and declared that was all she had. The Captain 
told her he would have to hang her if she did n't de- 
liver up every thing. She became frightened, and then 
commenced the peeling of petticoats, shawls, chemises, 
pillow-slips, etc., much to the amusement and contempt 
of all honest people. 

Suffice it to say, the woman, with her husband, was 
sent back to Dixie, to feed upon corn-bread and water, 
as the Union people of this neighborhood did n't wish 
to be contaminated by such trash. 

The Doctor's wife has since returned. She told me 
the story, and declares she won't leave the Doctor to 
keep house any more, as she won't trust him alone. 



TO THE 13th OHIO. 247 



TO THE THIRTEENTH OHIO. 

BY MAETHA M. THOMAS. 

Our Father's House is threatened, boys! 

The Union, grand and free, 
Has warmed an adder in its heart 

Tliat saps its great roof-tree. 
We 've sworn to hold it pure, boys — ■ 

A first love's holy shrine; 
A home for all the homeless, boys, 

For " auld lang syne.' 

Its foemen are our brothers, boys; 

But still we must not falter; 
Though dear to us those who offend, 

They must die by lead or halter. 
Our Father's House is ours in trust, 

From Washington's own line; 
The Union knows no Pleiad lost 

For "auld lang syne." 

The rafters of the old house, boys, 

Must never know pollution; 
Its cement was our father's blood. 

Its roof the Constitution; 
And though, like prodigals astray, 

Its sons eat husks with swine. 
And feel the rod, we'll kill the calf, 

For "aulJ lang syne." 

Then let the buzle sound, my boys 

And forward to the strife; 
We '11 thrash our rebel brothers well, 

E'en though it cost our life. 
And when we 've whipped them into grace 

And made each dim star shine. 
We '11 open wide our Fathers door. 

For "auld lang syne." 



248 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 



CHAPTER XXVII. 



The Oath — A Conservative Daekey's Opinion of Yankees — Visit to tub > 

Geaves op Ohio and Indiana Boys — Tkip fbom Murfreesboro to Louis- j 

viLLE — Nashville Convalescents — A Death in the Hospital — HeneX i 
LoviE Captuked. 

The Oath. 

BY THOMAS BUCHANAN READ. 

Hamlet — Swear on my sword. 
Ghost (below) — Swear ! — [Shakspeare. 

Ye freemen, how long will ye stifle 

The vengeance that justice inspires? 
With treason how long will you trifle, 

And shame the proud name of your sires? 
Out, out with the sword and the rifle, 

In defense of your homes and your fires. 
The flag of the old Revolution 

Swear firmly to serve and uphold. 
That no treasonous breath of pollution. 

Shall tarnish one star on its fold. 
Swear! 
And hark, the deep voices replying 
From graves where your fatliers are lying, 
'■'■Swear, 0, swear!" 

In this moment who hesitates, barters 

The rights which his forefathers won, 
He forfeits all claim to the charters 

Transmitted from sire to son. 



THE OATH. 249 

Kneel, kneel at the graves of our martyrs, 
And swear on your sword and your gun: 

Lay up your great oath on an altar 
As huge and as strong as Stonehenge, 

And then with sword, fire, and halter, 
Sweep down to the field of revenge. 
Swear! 

And hark, the deep voices replying 

From graves where your fathers are lying, 
^^ Sivear, 0, sicear!" 

By the tombs of your sires and brothers. 

The host which the traitors have slain; 
By the tears of your sisters and mothers, 

In secret concealing their jjain — 
The grief which the heroine smothers, 

Consuming the heart and the brain — 
By the sigh of the penniless widow, 

By the sob of her orphans' despair. 
Where they sit in their sorrowful shadow, 

Kneel, kneel, every freeman, and swear; 
Swear! 
And hark, the deep voices replying 
From graves where your fathers are lying, 
"(Su'fiar, 0, swear!" 

On mounds which are wet with the weeping 

Where a nation has boAved to the sod. 
Where the noblest of martyrs are sleeping. 

Let the winds bear your vengeance abroad, 
And your firm oaths be held in the keeping 

Of your patriot hearts and your God. 
Over Ellsworth, for whom the first tear rose, 

While to Baker and Lyon you look; 
By Winthrop, a star among heroes, 

By the blood of our murdered McCook, 
Swear! 
And hark, the deep voices replying 
From graves where your fathers are lying, 
^^ Swear, O, fiwear!" 



250 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

A Conservative Darkey's Opinion of Yankees. 

There was a large Union meeting in Nashville, and 
an old house-servant of one of the most aristocratic 
rebel families, who hates " Lincolnites " and "poor white 
trash" as heartily as Jeff Davis does, was walking 
slowly along the square as the grand procession was 
forming. Soldiers were moving about in great num- 
bers, the cavalry galloping to and fro, regiments were 
forming to the sound of lively music, citizens and vis- 
itors thronged the sidewalks, children ran about with 
banners, and thousands of flags fluttered like fragments 
of rainbows, from the various buildings. The con- 
servative contraband paced slowly along, rolling his 
distended eyes in all directions, apparently overwhelmed 
by the exhibition and bustle around him. Approach- 
ing our friend, he exclaimed : 

"My God! what are we Southern folks coming to? 
Massa said, a year ago, dat de Yankees done gone 
away forever. Now dey is swarmin' about thicker dan 
locusses. Dey runs dere boats on our ribber; dey is 
pressin' all our niggers ; dey lib in our houses ; dey 
drivin' our wagons, and ringin' our bells ; dey 'fisticatin' 
our property ; dey eatin' up our meat and corn ; dey 
done killed up mose all of our men ; and, 'fore God, I 
spec dey are gwine to marry all our widders ! " 

And, heaving a deep groan from the bottom of his 
continental waistcoat, he shook his head in sadness, 
and passed slowly onward, to the joyful chimes of the 
church-bells and the soul-stirring strains of " li: ankeo 
Doodle." 



graves op ohio and indiana boys. 251 

Visit to the Graves of Ohio and Indiana Boys. 

Traversing the field of battle, near ]\Iurfreesboro, a 
few clays after the rebel defeat, I could but contrast, 
in my mind, the terrible quiet with the terrific din and 
roar of battle of which it was the late scene. 

The debris of battle is strewn for miles and miles. 
Thousands upon thousands of cannon-balls and shell lie 
upon the field. The woods present the appearance of 
having been visited by a tornado, and here and there 
a pool of blood marks the place where some devoted 
hero has rendered up his life. 

The heavy cedar wood is nearl}^ three miles from Mur- 
freesboro, to the right of the pike, going south. The 
rocks bear evidence of the struggle, for thousands of 
bullet and shell traces may be seen. The smaller 
branches of trees are cut as if a severe hail-storm had 
visited the spot. Let us dismount and read the names 
of those soldiers who fell here. They have been given 
a soldier's funeral. Ah ! the names here denote this as 
a part of the gallant Ptousseau's division ; for on rough 
pieces of board we read : W. McCartin, Hamilton, Ohio, 
Company F, 3d Ohio ; F. Burley, Hamilton ; John Mot- 
ram, Company I, Cardington, Ohio ; H. K. Bennett, 
Company A, 3d Ohio ; M. Neer, Company D, 3d Ohio. 
And close beside, a brother Indiana soldier sleeps — ■ 
Joseph Guest, 42d Indiana. 

Just across the pike, on the left going south, is the 
grave of A. Hardy, 6th Ohio; and opposite this is the 
spot where Lieutenant Foster, of the noble 6th, yielded 
up his life, and was buried. Close by is a log house, 
perforated with shot and shell. Here some of our 



252 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

wounded souglit shelter during the storm of iron hail, 
but were mercilessly driven out by the shot poured into 
their intended refuge. To the left of this house are 
numerous graves. Among them, Francis Kiggins, Com- 
pany K, H. Borrien, Company H, W. Keller, Company 
H, all of the 2'|th Ohio; Alf Goodman, 58th Indiana; 
Noah Miller, 58th Indiana; E. D. Tuttles, Company 
B, C. McElvain, Company A, Levi Colwright, James 
Wright, C. A. McDowell, Company K ; J. B. Naylor, 
H. Lockmeyer, A. B. Endicott, Company A ; J. Cun- 
ningham, E. Skito, J. Pieavis, H. Cure, Company D, 
all of the 58th Indiana. 

Near this the 26th Ohio lost John Tagg, John Karn, 
F. Singer, and Charles Bartholomew ; Mark E. Bakes, 
of the 88th Indiana, and George Kumler and William 
Ogg, of the 93d Ohio, are buried here, together with 
John Van Waggoner and Lieutenant Black, of the 58th 
Indiana. And still further to the left, along the Chat- 
tanooga Railroad, are the remains of Elias M. Scott, 82d 
Indiana ; near this, but across the road, on the skirt of 
a wood, are Sergeants Potter and Puttenry, of the 24th 
Ohio, Henry Allen, of the 65th Ohio, and Frank Nitty, 
of the 58th Indiana. Continuing our course to the left, 
just crossing a dirt-road leading toward Murfreesboro, 
upon a little knoll, are the ruins of a once handsome 
mansion. Behind an upright Southern timber-fence, 
just back of the still-standing negro-quarters, there is a 
beautiful cluster of prairie-roses in full loaf. The wav- 
ing branches, as they bend to the right, cover the graves 
of three Cincinnati boys, two of whom I knew inti- 
mately. Go ask their comrades, and they will bear 
willino; evidence to the chivalrous bearino; of the two 



GRAVES OF OHIO AND INDIANA BOYS. 253 

noble youths, Ally Rockenfield and little Dave Medary. 
Beside them is the grave of W. S. Shaw, whom I did 
not know personally. I am told he died while bravely 
doing his whole duty. The branches of the same friendly 
rose-bush, bending to the left, cover the graves of Cap- 
tain Weller, Lieutenant Harmon, and Major Xerry, all 
of the 24th Ohio, forming a beautiful emblem of the 
unity of those two splendid regiments, the 6th and 
24th. Continuing still further to the left, we cross 
Stone Pbiver, where our forces did such good fighting 
under Crittenden. Just after crossing this stream, upon 
the first knoll, beneath a large oak, are the remains of 
Sergeant Jacob McGillen, of Hamilton. He belonged 
to the 69th Ohio. An incident in regard to this noble 
youth was told me by a gentleman who knew him well. 
When that noble man, William Beckett, of Hamilton, 
was doing all in his power to assist in raising the 69th 
Ptegiment, a number of the "Southern Rights'' sympa- 
thizers tried to dissuade McGillen from joining — bid- 
din a; him to hold off until substitutes were called for, 
and then, if he would go, they would buy him. He, 
however, spurned their base ofi"ers, and enlisted ; and, 
when crossing the river amid the leaden hail, he received 
a bullet in his arm ; he hastily tied up the wound, and, 
though weakened from loss of blood, rejoined his com- 
mand, and the second ball piercing his breast, he fell. 
Nearly opposite his resting place lies Captain Chandler, 
of the 19th Illinois. 

I have been told, by those high in command, that 
more individual prowess was manifested upon this bat- 
tle-field than any during the war. There were more 
hand-to-hand encounters, more desperate fighting — men 



254 INCIDENTS OF THE WAE. 

selling their lives as dearly as possible.' As to their 
General, there is but one acclamation: General Bose- 
crans has endeared himself to the whole army; they 
love him as a child should love its father; and all are 
satisfied that, had it not been for the surprise upon 
the righj^ and Johnson's defeat, the battle would have 
ended with the total annihilation of the Southern army. 

Nashville Convalescents — A Death in the Hos- 
pital. 

On my way back to Nashville I called at the differ- 
ent hospitals, and saw quite a number of the wounded. 
The surgeons were doing all they could toward sending 
them home. Doctor Ames and Doctor Stevens, of the 
6th Ohio, in fact, all the surgeons seemed assiduous in 
their attentions to the wounded. As a matter of course, 
many thought they were neglected; but there were so 
many to be attended to. 

I met Major Frank Cahill. He told me he had six 
thousand convalescents under his charge at Nashvlile. 

General Mitchell was kept very busy, although but few 
passes were given to any going South; but Lieutenant 
Osgood, his chief business'man, was up night and day, 
ready, at all times, to expedite those going in search of 
the wounded Union soldiers. Lieutenant Osgood cer- 
tainly did more business in one day than many men, 
who are called fast, could do in a week. To know that 
he did his duty, I will state that Secessionists hated 
him, and Union men spoke in high terms of him. 

A young lad, who had been sick for a long time, died ; 
his name was William Stokes, and his home was near 
Dayton, Ohio. The boy had been honorably discharged, 



HENRY LOVIE CAPTURED. 255 

but there were no blanks, and red tape forbids a sur- 
geon, no matter how high his position, to grant the 
final discharge without the blank forms. For five 
weeks this poor home-sick boy, only eighteen years of 
age, worried along, continually speaking of his mother 
and home; but the inexorable law kept him there to 
die. 

Henry Lovie Captured. 

At Bowling Green I met Henry Lovie, the artist; 
he had been grossly abused by a party of a dozen but- 
ternuts, at a little town called "Cromwell," (what 's in 
a name?) They accused him of being a nigger-thief — 
a d — d Abolitionist, and were sworn to hang him. His 
servant, however, happened to have his free papers, and 
Lovie, exhibiting to them passes from McClellan, Rose- 
crans, and other " high old names," they were disposed 
to cave a little. " Our traveling artist " for Frank Les- 
lie took a horse for self and one for servant, riding 
twenty-eight miles, fearing the butternuts might re- 
ceive reinforcements, and reached Bowling Green by 
early dawn, through mud, slush, snow, and rain. Lovie 
wants to enlist a company to go and take " Cromwell," 
and requested me to see Tom Jones & Co. in regard to 
the matter. 



256 INCIDEISITS OF THE WAR. 



CHAPTER XXVIII. 

General Steadman superseded by General Sciiofield, of Missouri — Colonel 
Brownlow's Regiment— Hia Bravery — A Rebel Officer Killed by a Wo- 
man — Discontent in East Tennessee — Picket Dl'tyand its Dangers — A Gal- 
lant Deed and a Chivalrous Return. 



Camp near Triune, Tennessee, 
April 24, 1862. 



} 



I ARRIVED in camp day before yesterday, and imme- 
diately reported for duty. 

Last niglit General Schofield took command of this 
division, General Steadman having been assigned to 
the Second Brigade. General Schofield comes to us 
with the highest recommendations for gallant daring, 
and his appearance among the boys was the signal for 
a neat ovation. He was serenaded by a crowd of 
singers, and, upon the conclusion of a patriotic song, 
he came to the front of his head-quarters and made a 
telling speech, which was enthusiastically received by 
his command. General Steadman being called for re- 
sponded, regretting to part with his old command, but 
rejoicing that he had been superseded by a gentleman 
and a soldier so worthy of the position that had been 
assigned him. General Steadman assured the General 
that he had as fine a set of soldiers as were to be 
found in the Army of the Cumberland; men who had 



COLONEL BEOWNLOW'S REGIMENT. 257 

been tried and never found wanting ; men wliom lie as- 
sured General Schofield would go wherever ordered, 
and against any foe. After the adjournment of the 
public demonstration, the two generals, with their staffs, 
were handsomely entertained by Captain E-oper, where 
song, sentiment, and recitation were the order of the 
evening — Colonel George, Colonel Vandeveer, Colonel 
Long, and other notables being among the guests. 

While thus enjoying ourselves, the General received 
a telegraphic dispatch from head-quarters, announcing 
the capture of McMinnville by our forces. 

The command of the Third Division, we feel confi- 
dent, is in vigilant hands. Brigadier-General Schofield 
has heretofore proved his efficiency in Missouri. His 
staff consists of Major J. A. Campbell, A. A. S.; W. 
M. Wherry, Aid-de-camp; A. H, Engle, Aid-de-camp 
and Judge Advocate ; Captain Kirk, Quarter-master ; 
Captain Roper, Commissary; Captain Budd, Inspector 
of Division, and Doctor Gordon, Medical Director. 

The East Tennessee Cavalry still continue to prove 
their gallantry. I spent a pleasant afternoon with 
them yesterday, and paid a visit to their hospital. I 
saw six of the noble fellows who were wounded in a 
late fight. About ten days ago. Colonel Brownlow, a 
regular " chip of the old block," took a part of the reg- 
iment out some twelve miles from camp, toward Duck 
Piiver, and, coming upon a large party of secesh, gave 
them a "taste of his quality." A short time after, 
the Colonel, with nine of his men, became detached from 
the main body, and found themselves completely sur- 
rounded by the jebels, and were within thirty yards of 
the foe, who ordered the Colonel to surrender. A mo- 
22 



258 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

ment's parley with his men, and the Colonel, with the 
boys, rode toward the rebels, and, with a few adjec- 
tives, quite unparliainentary to ears polite, much to 
their surprise, dashed through their line. This au- 
dacity saved them ; for-, before they had time to recover 
from their surprise, Brownlow and his men were be- 
yond their reach. I was told, by one of the prisoners, 
that, at one time, twenty rebels were firing at that " lit- 
tle cuss in the blue jacket," as they called the Colonel, 
during tlie day's performance. Several splendid charges 
were made by these Tennesseeans. 

James My singer, of Company I, from Green County, 
after being mortally wounded — the noble fellow — fired 
three shots. The Colonel dismounted to assist the 
dying soldier, who, with tears in his eyes, said : 

'' Colonel, I 've only one regret — that I am not spared 
to kill more of those wretched traitors. Tell me. Colo- 
nel," continued he, ''have I not always obeyed orders?" 

'' Yes, Mysinger, you are a noble fellow, and have 
always done your duty," said the Colonel, patting him 
on the cheek, and brushing the cold sweat from his 
brow. 

"Now, Colonel," said he, "I am ready to die." 

Oliver Miller, Company C, received a severe wound 
in the arm. He is only seventeen years of age. John 
Harris received three balls. Robert Adair was wound- 
ed in the head. William Riddle was completely riddled, 
receiving one ball and four buck-shot. David Berry 
had his thigh broken, jumping from his horse. Berry's 
father was murdered by rebels at CumbeAand Gap. 
His head was placed upon a block and cut ofi", by order 
of Colonel Brazzleton, of the 1st East Tennessee rebel 



REBEL OFFICER KILLED BY A WOMAN". 259 

cavalry. Nearly all these men have not only their 
country's wrongs to avenge, but the wrongs heaped 
upon their fathers, mothers, and sisters. I spent an 
hour in conversation with these wounded men, and all 
were laughing and talking in the best of spirits. Such 
men are invincible. 

A brother of Colonel Brownlow, who is now on a 
visit to this camp, informs me that he had it from the 
most reliable source, that the rebels in and around 
Knoxville were actually suffering for food. An order 
was issued by the rebel commander at Knoxville, a few 
days since, to seize all the hams, sides, and bacon be- 
longing to private parties, leaving only fifty pounds for 
each family. A Mrs. Tillery, of Knox County, residing 
twelve miles from Knoxville, when her house was vis- 
ited for the purpose of being pillaged, in the fulfillment 
of this order, expostulated with the lieutenant in com- 
mand. She told him that fifty pounds would not keep 
her family two weeks, and she had no way of obtaining 
more. Notwithstanding her entreaties, the rebel lieu- 
tenant ordered fifty pounds to be weighed and given to 
her. He had scarcely given the order when Mrs. Til- 
lery drew a pistol and shot the lieutenant through the 
heart. The rebel detail left the meat, and took off the 
corpse of their commander. The spirit of discontent is 
manifesting itself in various ways among even the most 
ultra rebels. They are getting tired of seeing their 
country devastated by the two armies, and are anxious 
for a settlement ; and it only awaits the daring of a 
feio to inaugurate a ''rebellion within a rebellion," 
which, if once started, will spread like wild-fire. 



260 incidents of the war. 

Picket Duty and its Dangers. 

Of all tlie duties of a soldier, outpost duty is tlie 
most trying and dangerous. Courage, caution, patience, 
sleepless vigilance, and iron nerve are essential to its 
due performance. Upon the picket-guards of an army 
rests an immense responsibility. They are the eyes 
and ears of the encamped or embattled host. Hence, 
if they are negligent or faithless, the thousands de- 
pendent upon their zeal and watchfulness for safety, 
might almost as well be blind and deaf. The bravest 
army, under such circumstances, is liable, like a strong 
man in his sleep, to be pounced upon and discomfited 
by an inferior foe. For this reason the laws of war 
declare that the punishment of a soldier found sleeping 
on his post shall be death. 

But although the peril and responsibility involved in 
picket duty are so great, the heroes who are selected 
for it rarely receive honorable mention in our military 
bulletins. Their collisions with the enemy are "skirm- 
ishes." The proportion of killed and wounded in these 
collisions may be double or triple what it was at Ma- 
genta or Solferino, but still they are mere " affairs of 
outposts." "Our pickets were driven in," or "The 
enemy's pickets were put to flight," and that is the end 
of it. Presently comes the news of a brilliant Union 
victory; and nobody pauses to consider that if our 
pickets had been asleep, or faithless, or cowardly, a 
Union defeat might, nay 'inust, have been the conse- 
quence. 

We forget what these men endure — their risks, their 
privations, their fatigues, their anxieties, their battles 



GALLANT DEED AND A CHIVALROUS RETURN. 261 

with themselves, when sleep — more insidious than even 
the hirking enemy in the bush — tugs at their heavy 
eyelids, and their overwearied senses are barely held to 
their allegiance by the strongest mental effort. The 
soldier who rushes to the charge at the command of his 
officer is animated by the shouts of his comrades, in- 
spirited by the sounds of martial music, and full of the 
ardor and confidence which the consciousness of being 
intelligently led and loyally supported engenders. He 
sees his adversaries ; he fights in an open field ; his fate 
is to be decided by the ordinary chances of honorable 
war. Not so the picket-guard. He is surrounded by 
unseen dangers. The gleam of his bayonet may, at any 
moment, draw upon him the fire of some prowling assas- 
sin. If he hears a rustling among the leaves, and in- 
quires, ''Who goes there?" the answer may be a ball 
in his heart. 

A Gallant Deed and a Chivalrous Eeturn. 

In the recent movement of Stoneman's Cavalry, the 
advance was led by Lieutenant Paine, of the 1st Maine 
Cavalry. Being separated, by a considerable distance, 
from the main body, he encountered, unexpectedly, a 
superior force of rebel cavalry, and his whole party 
were taken prisoners. They were hurried off as rap- 
idly as possible to get them out of the way of our ad- 
vancing force, and, in crossing a rapid and deep stream. 
Lieutenant Henry, commanding the rebel force, was 
swept off his horse. As none of his men seemed to 
think or care any thing about saving him, his prisoner. 
Lieutenant Paine, leaped oft' his horse, seized the drown- 
ing man by the collar, swam asliore with him, and saved 



262 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. ' 

his life, thus literally capturing the captor. Paine 
was sent to Eichmond with the rest of the prisoners, 
and the facts being made known to General Fitz-Hugh 
Lee, he wrote a statement of them to General Winder, 
Provost-Marshal of Richmond, who ordered the instant 
release of Lieutenant Paine, without even parole, prom- 
ise, or condition, and, we presume, with the compli- 
ments of the Confederacy. He arrived in Washington 
on Saturday last. This act of generosity, as well as 
justice, must command our highest admiration. There 
is some hope for men who can behave in such a manner. 
But the strangest part of the story is yet to come. 
Lieutenant Paine, on arriving in Washington, learned 
that the officer whose life he had thus gallantly saved 
had since been taken prisoner by our forces, and had 
just been confined in the Old Capitol prison. The 
last we heard of Paine he was on his way to General 
Martindale's head-quarters to obtain a pass to visit 
his imprisoned benefactor. Such are the vicissitudes 
of war. We could not help thinking, when we heard 
this story, of the profound observation of Mrs. Gamp : 
"Sich is life, vich likevays is the hend of hall things 
heartlily." We leave it to casuists to determine 
whether, when these two gallant soldiers meet on the 
battle-field, they should fight like enemies or embrace 
like Christians. For our part, we do not believe their 
swords will be any the less sharp, nor their zeal any 
the less determined, for this hap-hazard exchange of 
soldierly courtesy. 



{ 



INCIDENT AT HOLLY SPRINGS. 263 



CHAPTEE XXIX. 

An Incident at Holly Springs, Miss. — The Raid of Van Doen — Cincinnati 
cotton-dealebs in trouble — tlloueles of a reporter. 

An Incident at Holly Springs, Miss, — The Raid 
OF Van Dorn. 

The amount of public and private property captured 
and destroyed by the enemy is estimated at something 
over six millions of dollars. He had considerable skirm- 
ishing with our troops, whose effective force Colonel 
R. C. Murphy, commandant of the post, says was Jess 
than three hundred. The Confederates lost ten or 
twelve in killed and wounded, and we six or seven 
wounded, none fatally. Colonel Murphy says he re- 
ceived information from Grant too late to make the 
necessary arrangements for the defense of the place. 
Though there were less than three hundred effective 
Union soldiers in town, all the civilians, tradesmen, 
speculators, and promiscuous hangers-on to the army 
were captured, swelling the number who gave their 
parole to about fifteen hundred. The raid, as you may 
imagine, delighted the residents of Holly Springs, who 
turned out en masse to welcome their brief-lingering 
" deliverers," and were very active in pointing out the 
places where Xortherners were boarding. Not a few 



264 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

of the precious citizens fired at our troops from tlie 
windows, and acted as contemptibly and dastardly as 
possible. The women, who had been rarely visible be- 
fore, made their appearance, radiant, and supplied the 
rebel Yahoos with all manner of refreshments. " Good 
Union men," who had sold their cotton to the Yankees, 
shook the Treasury-notes in the faces of the Union 
prisoners, saying they had been paid for their prop- 
erty, and had the pleasure of burning it before the 
''d — d Abolition scoundrels' eyes." 

Cincinnati Cotton Dealers in Teouble. 

A number of cotton-buyers were robbed of whatever 
money they had on their persons, and some of them are 
said to have lost from five to ten thousand dollars apiece, 
which is, probably, an exaggerated statement. W. W. 
Cones, of Cincinnati, saved a large sum by an ingenious 
trick. He had twenty-eight thousand dollars on his 
person when the enemy entered the place, and imme- 
diately throwing off his citizen's garb, he attired him- 
self in the cast-off" gauntlets of a private soldier, 
entered the Magnolia House, employed as a hospital, 
and, throwing himself upon a bed, assumed to be ex- 
ceedingly and helplessly sick, while the foe remained. 
As soon as the rebels had departed, he became suddenly 
and vigorously healthy, and walked into the street to 
denounce the traitors. He declared his eleven hours' 
sickness caused him less pain, and saved him more 
money than any illness he ever before endured. D. W. 
Fairchild, also of the Q.ueen City, in addition to losing 
fifty bales of cotton, was robbed of his pocket-book, 



CINCINNATI. COTTON-DEALERS IN TROUBLE. 265 

containing forty-five dollars, in the following manner: 
When captured, he was taken before General Jackson, 
popularly known as "Billy Jackson," considered a high 
representative of chivalry and soldiership in this be- 
nighted quarter of the globe. Jackson inquired of 
Fairchild, in a rough way, if he had any money with 
him ? To which the party addressed answered, he had 
a trifling sum, barely sufficient to pay his expenses to 
the North. " Hand it over, you d — d nigger thief," 
roared the high-toned general, who, as soon as the 
porte-monnaie was produced, seized it, thrust it into 
his pocket, and rode off with a self-satisfied chuckle. 
What a noble specimen of chivalry is this Jackson ! 
He has many kindred spirits in the South, where vul- 
gar ruffians are apotheosized, who would, at an earlier 
time, have been sent to the pillory. " Sixteen-string 
Jack," and all that delectable fraternity, whose lives 
bloom so fragrantly in the pages of the saifron-hued 
literature of the day, would have spat in the faces of 
such fellows as Jackson, had they dared to claim the 
acquaintance of persons so much their superiors. 

When the rebels were playing the part of incendia- 
ries in town, they set fire to the building containing 
a great quantity of our ammunition, shells, etc. The 
consequence was a tremendous explosion, which broke 
half the windows, and many of the frames, in town, 
rattled down ceilings, unsettled foundations, and spread 
general dismay. Women and children screamed, and 
rushed like maniacs into the streets, and fell fainting 
with terror there. For several hours the shells con- 
tinued to burst, and, I have heard, two or three chil- 
dren were killed with fragments of the projectiles. 
23 



266 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

Two days after, I saw families suffering from hysterica 
on account of excessive fright, and several seemed to 
have become quite crazed therefrom. 

Teoubles of a Reporter. 

One morning, hearing that John Morgan was at 
Elizabethtown, Ky., I determined to go as near as pos- 
sible, and find out the condition of things, and see the 
fight that was in expectancy, Proceeding as far as I 
could by rail, I hired a carriage and horses, hoping to 
reach Munfordville in time for a big item, 

I had proceeded some five miles when a party of 
eight men, whom I at once determined were guerrillas, 
rode hastily to the carriage, and demanded my cre- 
dentials. I exhibited a free pass over the Ohio and 
Mississippi Railroad, four Provost-Marshal's passes, a 
permission to leave the State of Ohio, also one to leave 
Kentucky, and a ten-cent Nashville bill. I was afraid 
to show them my letter from General Starbuck, of the 
Daily Times. 

After looking at them awhile, they were passed round 
to the balance of the fiendish-looking rascals, and I 
was kept in terrible suspense ten minutes longer. 

I tried to get off several of my well-authenticated 
bad jokes, but I choked in the utterance, and my smile 
was no doubt a sardonic grin. I wiped the perspira- 
tion from my brow so frequently that one of the most 
intellectual of the "brutes" relieved the monotony of 
the occasion by observing that it was a very hot day, to 
which I acquiesced, feeling quite glad to have a guer- 
rilla speak to a prisoner. 

The countryman who had driven me thus far was 



TROUBLES OF A REPORTER. 267 

speechless. He thouglit of liis carriage and horses, and 
visions of their being immediately possessed by Morgan 
or Forrest had rendered him powerless. After a few 
questions as to where we left the train, and as to the 
number of passengers on board, the citizen cavalry, or 
Union guards, as they proved to be, told us we might 
proceed, that we were all right, but to be very careful, 
as Forrest was reported near that region ; they hardly 
thought it safe to attempt to get to Green Eiver. 

This brewed fresh trouble to me, the owner of the 
horses and carriage refusing positively to proceed on the 
journey. In vain I expostulated, telling him I would 
pay for his horses out of the sinking fund of the Times 
office, in case of their loss. It was no go, and I was 
compelled to retreat. I felt very much like building 
some fortifications in the woods, and making a stand, 
but, remembering the saying, " Discretion is the better 
part of valor," retreated, and fell back upon the Na- 
tional Hotel, in Louisville, with all the luxuries pre- 
pared by Charley Metcalf, Major Harrow, and Colonel 
Myers. 



268 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 



CHAPTER XXX. 



A Reporter's Idea of Mules — Letter from Kentucky — Chaplain Gaddib 
TURNS Fireman — Gaddis and the Secesh Grass-widow. 



A Eepoeter's Idea of Mules. 

Junius Browne, describing a mule and liis antics, 
says: "Now, be it known, I never had any faith in, 
though possessed of abundant commiseration for, a 
mule. I always sympathized with Sterne in his senti- 
mental reverie over a dead ass, but for a living one, I 
could never elevate my feeling of pity either into love 
or admiration. The mule in question, however, seemed 
to be possessed of gentle and kindly qualifications. He 
appeared to have reached that degree of culture that 
disarms viciousness and softens stubbornness into tract- 
ability. I believed the sober-looking animal devoid of 
tricks peculiar to his kind, such as attempting to run 
up dead walls in cities, and climb trees in the country, 
mistaking himself for a perpetual motion, and trying to 
kick Time through the front window of Eternity. I 
was deceived in the docile-looking brute. He secured 
me as his rider by false pretenses. He won my confi- 
dence, and betrayed it shamefully. That he was a 
good mule, in some respects, I '11 willingly testify ; but 



A reporter's idea of mules. 269 

in others, he was deeply depraved. He exhibited a dis- 
position undreamed of by me, unknown before in the 
brothers and sisters of his numerous family. In brief, 
he was a sectarian mule; a bigot that held narrow views 
on the subject of religion ; believed Hebrew the vernac- 
ular of the devil, and regarded the Passover with ma- 
levolent eyes. Confound such a creature, there was no 
hope for him ! Who could expect to free him from his 
prejudices? He hated Moses for his fate, and Kebek- 
kali for her forms of worship. He was insane on Juda- 
ism. He was a monomaniacal Gentile. Who could 
make out a mental diagnosis, or anticipate the conduct 
of a mule afflicted with religious lunacy? Well for 
your correspondent had he discovered beforehand the 
bias of the brute, or suspected he was a quadruped 
zealot ! Much might have been saved to him, and more 
to a number of unoffending gentlemen from church, 
as the sequel of my ' o'er true tale ' will prove. 

" The train got off about eight o'clock, on a cloudy, 
rainy, muddy, suicidal morning, and the material that 
composed it was worthy of illustration by Cruikshank. 
The procession was singularly varied, and supremely 
bizarre. There were the army-wagons, with sick and 
wounded soldiers, lumbering heavily along ; the paroled 
prisoners wading through the mire; cotton-buyers, on 
foot and on horseback ; members of the twelve tribes 
of Israel, with all possible modes of conveyance — in 
broken buggies, in dilapidated coaches, on bare-boned 
Eosinantes, on superannuated oxen, with fragmentary 
reins, rope reins, and no reins ; spurring, swearing, hal- 
looing, and gesticulating toward Memphis, in mortal 
terror lest the rebels would capture them again, and 



270 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

some of their hard-earnerl gains. Pauvre Juils ! They 
would have excited the pity of a pawnbroker, if he had 
not known them, so frightened and anxious and dis- 
consolate they looked. They could not have appeared 
more miserable if they had just learned that a brass 
watch they had sold for silver had turned out gold. 
The mule trotted along briskly and quietly enough until 
he beheld the grotesque vision of the heterogeneously- 
mounted Israelites. Then he displayed most extraor- 
dinary conduct. He pawed, he hawed, he kicked, all 
the while glancing at the sons of Jerusalem, and bray- 
ing louder and more discordant every moment. I could 
not understand the mule's idiosyncrasies. Possibly, I 
thought, the doctrine of the metempsychosis may be 
true, and this brute, in the early stages of its develop- 
ment, once have been in love. He has a fit on him 
now, I fancied — he is once more possessed of a petti- 
coat. Why not ? If love converts men into asses, why 
should not asses, in their maddest moments, act like 
men in love ? The mule's ire was culminating. I dug 
my spurs into his side. Vain effort ! He was bent on 
mischief, and malignant against the persecuted race. 
If he had been in the House of Commons, (and many 
of his brethren are there,) I know he never would have 
voted for the admission of Jews into the English Par- 
liament. Before I could anticipate his movement, he 
rushed at several pedestrian Hebrews and kicked the 
wind out of their stomachs and three pairs of green 
spectacles from their noses. While endeavoring to re- 
cover their glasses, the mule knocked their hats off 
with his hoofs, and impaired the perfect semicircle of 
their proboscis, thus imitating the rebels — by destroying 



A e-eporter's idea of mules. 271 

their bridges totally. The infuriated brute then ran 
for an old buggy, and, by supreme perseverance, kicked 
it over, and its two Hebrew occupants, into the road, 
where they fell, head-foremost, into the mire, growling 
profanely, like tigers that have learned German imper- 
fectly, and were trying to swear, in choice Teutonic, 
about the peculiar qualities of Limburger cheese. In 
their sudden subversion, the Israelites dropped three 
fine watches out of their pockets, and the mule, with 
an unprecedented voracity, and determined on having 
a good time, ate the chronometers without any appa- 
rent detriment to digestion. The owners of the watches 
were frenzied. They glanced at my beast, and were 
about to devour him, hoping thereby to get the time- 
pieces back. They did not violate the third com- 
mandment. They could not. They were too mad. 
They merely hissed rage, like a boiling tea-kettle, and 
grew purple in the face, and spun round in the road, 
from the excess of their wrath. Your correspondent 
was alarmed. He feared the mule would devour the 
Hebrews themselves, and he knew, if that were done, 
the animal would explode, and said animal had not 
been paid for. No time was given for reflection. Off 
ran the mule again, and made a pedal attack on a small 
Hebrew with a huge nasal organ, seated on top of a 
decayed coach, drawn by a horse, a cow, and three ne- 
groes. The quadruped made a herculean effort to kick 
the diminutive Shylock from his seat, but all in vain. 
The altitude was too great, and, in the midst of his ex- 
ertions, he kicked himself off his feet, and fell over 
into a gulley, in which he alighted and stood on his 



272 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

head, as if he had been trained in a circus. The posi- 
tion was admirable, and so wortliy of imitation that ] 
stood on my head also, in two feet of mire, and beck- 
oned with my boots for some passing pedestrians to come 
and pull me out, as they would a radish from a kitchen- 
garden. The mule resumed his normal position speed- 
ily, and went off in his well-sustained character of a 
Jew-hunter. I was less fortunate. Three teamsters 
drew my boots from my feet, and tears from my eyes, 
before they could extricate me. And when I was re- 
moved from terra firvia, I resembled a hickory stump 
dragged out by the roots, or a large cat-fish that had 
left his native element, and, seized with a fit of science, 
had endeavored to convert himself into a screw of the 
Artesian well. Placed feet downward on the ground 
again, I could not thank my deliverers or swear at the 
mule. I was dumb with astonishment and the mud, 
having swallowed eighteen ounces avoirdupois weight 
of the sacred soil of Mississippi while endeavoring to 
express my admiration of the performance of the mule. 
When I had removed the mire from my optics, in 
which cotton-seed would have grown freely, I beheld 
the mule in the dim distance. I could not see the 
brute plainly, but I could determine his course by the 
frequent falling of a human figure along the road. I 
knew the figures were those of his enemies, the much- 
abused Hebrews — that he was still wreaking his ven- 
geance on the representatives of Israel — that he was 
fulfilling the unfortunate destiny of a misguided and 
merciless mule. Strange animal ! Had the honest 
tradesman ever sold his grandfather a bogus watch? 



LETTERS FROM KENTUCKY. 273 

or inveigled his innocent sire into tlie mysterious pre- 
cincts of a mock-auction ? Alas ! history does not re- 
cord, and intuition will not reveal. 

" My narrative is over. I did not go to Memphis. I 
returned, limping, to town, mentally ejaculating, like 
many adventurous gentlemen who, before me, have 
recklessly attempted to ride the peculiar beast, 'D — n 
a mule, any how ! ' " 

Letters from Kentucky. 

Early in September, 1862, I was sent by General 
Starbuck & Co., proprietors of the Cincinnati Daily 
Times, to reconnoiter in Kentucky. My first stop 
was a very pleasant one — at the Gait House, Louis- 
ville. From that place I wrote incident after incident 
concerning the most inhuman barbarity that had been 
enacted by citizen guerrillas and butternut soldiers. 
Louisville was in a foment of excitement, and if the 
rebels had only possessed the dash, there was scarce a 
day but they could have made a foray upon the " Gait," 
and captured from forty to fifty nice-looking officers, 
from brigadier-generals down to lieutenants. 

It was supposed the Government could spare them ; 
else why were they in the North, when they should 
have been in the South ? 

While there, I met Lieutenant Thomas S. Pennington, 
of Columbus, Ohio, a gentleman of intelligence, who 
told me he saw citizens of Eichmond (Kentucky) 
who had pretended to be friendly with our men, 
shoot them down as they were retreating through 
their streets. G. W. Baker, the regimental black- 



274 INCIDENTS OF THE WAE. 

smith of the 71st Indiana, who resides in Terre Haute, 
was in the city in charge of a number of horses left in 
Bichmond. As our boys, worn-out and unarmed, re- 
treated through the place, Mr. Baker says the men 
fired from their windows and doors. J. C. Haton, of 
Point Commerce, Indiana, also corroborates this fiendish 
piece of work upon the very men who had for days 
stood guard over their private property. All agree 
that more of our men were killed by these incarnate 
fiends in citizens' clothing than by the secesh in uni- 
forms. Many of the pretended friendly citizens went 
out (says Lieutenant Pennington) to aid us, and then 
treacherously picked ofi" our officers. Colonel Topkins, 
of the 71st Indiana, died nobly, leading his men, who, 
although undisciplined, stood bravely by their gallant 
colonel while there was a shadow of hope. Twice was 
his horse shot beneath him; and mounting the third 
horse, he received two bullets. A number of his boys 
hastily gathered around him. His last words were: 
" Boys, did I do my duty ? " With tears coursing 
their manly cheeks, they replied : " You did. Colonel." 
"Then," said he, "1 die happy." Major Concklin, of 
the 71st, whom I reported wounded, died shortly after- 
ward. Coming from Shelby ville, I passed more than 
one hundred wagons, all heavily loaded with the wreck 
of the late battles, many of the wounded being brought 
to this city. 

Chaplain Gaddis and the 2d Ohio. 

Charley Bunker, in writing from the 2d Ohio, says : 
"This is the Sabbath, which, under present circum- 



CHAPLAIN GADDIS AND THE 2d OhIO. 275 

stances, can only be known by the neat appearance of 
the boys, in their shiny boots and clean, boiled shirts, 
as they make their' early morning entree for company 
inspection of arms and accouterments, after which, all 
is dullness and vacuity. There is a sensible void, ap- 
parent to all, requiring something to remove the de- 
pressing dullness now surrounding them ; and that 
something is to be found only in the presence of an 
accommodating and pleasing chaplain. Being to-day 
in the camp of the 2d Ohio Regiment, I observed this 
lack of a clerical adviser, in the absence of Brother 
M. P. Gaddis, the pleasing and aifable chaplain of this 
gallant band of patriots. Brother Gaddis, being natu- 
rally of a pleasing and accommodating disposition, has 
won the confidence and favor of his entire command, and 
is an ever-welcome guest wherever he may chance 
to ofier his presence. But one instance can be re- 
corded wherein the parson has met with refusal of 
friejidship and favor — and this can be credited to 
nothing but the present distracted condition of our 
unfortunate country. But, even in this instance, the 
kind and accommodating nature of the chaplain was 
fully manifested; forgetting all party or political preju- 
dices, he viewed all the circumstances with a happy 
mind and Christian heart. The following are the 
circumstances of the above-mentioned case : On the 
first advance of the national army from Louisville to- 
ward the land of Dixie, a portion of our forces marched 
along the turnpike, passing in their route the time- 
noted tavern-stand, distant some twenty miles north of 
Bowling Green, and known to all travelers as "Ball's 
Tavern." On the evening of the arrival of the forces 



276 INCIDENTS OF THE WAK. 

under the immediate command of General Mitchel, at 
this place, one of the buildings attached to the premises 
accidently caught fire. 

Chaplain GTaddis Turns Fireman. 

The 2d Ohio Regiment being encamped near the 
premises, and observing the flames bursting from the 
roof of the building, Brother Gaddis, with a number of 
others, instantly made their way to the building to save 
the entire property from destruction. Entering the 
building, they made their way to the top of the house, 
where the fire was then raging, and commenced tearing 
away the wood-work near the devouring element. No 
water being convenient, they were obliged to resort to 
the snow as a substitute, which, at that time, covered 
the ground, to subdue the flames. Having partially 
succeeded in checking the raging of the fire, a small 
aperture was made in the roof of the building, and 
Dave Thomas, the sutler of the 2d Ohio, being the 
smallest one of the party, was thrust through the hole 
in the roof, and made a desperate onslaught upon the 
fire, while Brother Gaddis continued to hand up the 
snow in hats and caps to the daring firemen on the 
roof, until the fire was entirely extinguished. The fol- 
lowing day Brother Gaddis, knowing the former reputa- 
tion of the tavern, and, as is natural with all clerical 
exponents, preferring fried chicken to hog meat, and 
v/arm rolls to hard crackers, wended his way to the 
tavern, with a craving appetite, and the full expectation 
of a kind welcome and an agreeable entertainment. 

Before proceeding farther, I must here state that, 



GADDIS AND THE SECESH GEASS-WIDOW. 277 

attached to these premises, is a noted subterranean re- 
cess, which has ever been the attraction of all travelers 
who have chanced to pass over this frequented thorough- 
fare, and is known as the ''Diamond Cave." 

Gaddis and the Secesh Grass- Widow. 

Entering the dwelling, Brother Gaddis sought the 
landlady, Mrs. Proctor, or the late widow Bell, but now 
the wife of a Proctor, who, by-the-by, is at present to 
be found in the ranks of the rebel army, the madam's 
entire sympathies leading in the same direction. Ad- 
dressing the landlady in his usual winning manner, 
Brother Gaddis requested the privilege of remaining as 
a guest of the house, and enjoying the luxuries of her 
well-stored larder and the comforts of her well-fur- 
nished rooms. What was the surprise of the chaplain 
to find in the landlady a real she-devil in politics, and 
utterly inexorable to all appeals to her charity and hos- 
pitality. In her remarks, she observed that " He was 
on the wrong side of the fence ; that she had enter- 
tained, the day before the arrival of the Union troops, 
a company of three hundred gentlemen, (referring to 
that number of rebel cavalry,) and that they had treated 
her like a lady, and paid her for what they had re- 
ceived" — {in Confederate scrip). In reply, Brother Gad- 
dis, not wishing to be deprived of her coveted enter- 
tainment, inquired "What was the difference which side 
of the fence he was on, so that he conducted himself with 
propriety, and paid her for her trouble?" asking if his 
money was not as good as that of those of whom she 
spoke. She answered, " No ! " and positively refused 
to entertain any of the " hated Yankees" in her house. 



278 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 



TURCHIN 'S GOT YOUE MuLE." 

A planter came to camp one day, 

His niggers for to find; 
His mules had also gone astray, 

And stock of every kind. 
The planter tried to get them back. 

And thus was made a fool, 
For every one he met in camp 

Cried, "Mister, here's your mule." 
Chorus. — Go back, go back, go back, old scamp. 

And don't be made a fool; 
Your niggers they are all in camp, 

And Turchin 's got your mule. 

His corn and horses all were gone 

Within a day or two. 
Again he went to Colonel Long, 

To see what he could do. 
"I can not change what I have done, 

And won't be made a fool," 
Was all the answer he could get, 

The owner of the mule. 
CnoEUS. — Go back, go back, go back, old scamp, 

And don't be made a fool; 
Your niggers they are all in camp. 

And Turchin 's got your mule. 

And thus from place to place we go. 

The song is e'er the same; 
'Tis not as once it used to be, 

For Morgan 's lost his name. 
He went up North, and there he stays, 

With sti'icken face, the fool; 
In Cincinnati now he cries, 

* My kingdom for a mule." 
Chorus. — Go back, go back, etc. 



VISIT TO 1st east TENNESSEE CAVALRY. 279 



CHAPTER XXXI, 



A Visit to the 1st East Tennessee Cavalry— A Proposed Sermon— Its Interrup- 
tion — How YE Preacher is Bamboozled out of $15 and a Gold Watch 

Cavalry on the Brain — Old Stonnicker Drummed out oi- Camp — Now and 
Then. 



A Visit to the 1st East Tennessee Cavalry. 

The cavalry had been kept very busy during the 
months of March and April ; the picket-duty was ardu- 
ous and severe, but the East Tennessee soldiers stood 
up to the rack manfully. I had been with them on 
nearly all their expeditions ; shared their toils and dan- 
gers, until I felt I was a part and parcel of their " in- 
stitution." Colonel Johnson, at this time, was in 
Nashville, raising a brigade ; the command of the regi- 
ment, therefore, devolved upon Colonel Brownlow. 

The Colonel had frequently invited me over to the 
camp, but other engagements had as frequently de- 
terred me from accepting the invitation. 

I was seated, one beautiful afternoon, in the tent of 
Docto<r Charles Wright, of the 35th Ohio, conversing 
with Colonel Brownlow, when Major Tracy, of the Ten- 
nessee regiment, with two or three others, agreed that 
" now was the appointed time." A horse was proffered 



280 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR 

me by John Leiter, Esq., and I proceeded forthwith 
to the head-quartervS of the renowned East Tennes- 
seeans. Arriving there, the Major requested that I 
would entertain the boys, who, as well as they knew 
me personally, did not know me facially — did not know 
the '' power of facial expression." 

Major Tracy ordered the assembly- call sounded, which 
was done, and, in a short time, five or six hundred men 
were congregated in front of head-quarters, and as 
those in the rear could not have a good view of the 
speaker, the Major ordered the front rank to kneel, or 
squat. The boys had been told that Alf was going 
to give them some " fun ; " that Alf was to amuse them 
for awhile. 

During the congregating of the crowd, I was in the 
tent — the audience in waiting. Major T. went to the 
front and announced that the Rev. Ebenezer Slab- 
sides, from Middle Tennessee, would address the con- 
gregation. A table was placed, and I had taken a 
"posish," with spectacles mounted on my nose, when, 
just as I had commenced the discourse, by saying: 
"My Beloved Beetheeing, " I heard a strange voice 
say: 

" We did n't come to hear no sermon — we come to 
hear Alf. Put that fellow out ! " 

Another voice said : " That 's a burlesque on our 
parson." 

Still I went on, thinking all would be quiet. Pres- 
ently a big, tall E. T. 0. fellow shouted " Move him, 
move him!" and shouts of "Alf! where 's Alf?" re- 
sounded all over. Here I tried to divest myself of my 
Bpectacles, but they stuck, and before I could identify 



CAVALRY ON THE BRAIN. 281 

myself to the crowd as to who I was, I received a knock- 
down argument. 

I changed my base of operations, and retreated to 
the Major's tent. Here two stalwart fellows laid vio- 
lent hands upon me, and each one getting hold, tried 
to pull me through the tent-pole. Seeing a fine op- 
portunity for a strategical maneuver, I succeeded in 
planting a heavy blow on the proboscis of one of my 
tormentors, which bedizzened his vision. Again I 
changed my base, and got to another tent. By this 
time the camp was wild; a few, who knew me, were 
taking my part ; blows fell thick and fast, but I suc- 
ceeded in guarding my head. I had no relish for cav- 
alry on the brain just then. During the mel6e they 
robbed me of a watch and about fifteen dollars in 
money. "But they can't do it again/ Hallelujah !" 

The news of my defeat spread like wild-fire over the 
camp before tatoo ; the entire division were talking of 
it, and serious consequences were feared ; the cavalry 
soldiers did not dare show themselves near the 2d 
Minnesota for several days, I being quite a favorite 
with those boys, and that being my home for the time. 
The most exaggerated stories were told of the affair. 

In a few days all was quiet on the Harpeth, and 
again I was with the boys, who all made the most 
ample apologies, and expressed sorrow for what had 
occurred. 

Colonel Brownlow called upon me the next day, in 
condolence, renewing the invitation, but the remem- 
brance of my former reception deterred me from mak- 
ing the journey. Some weeks after the occurrence, I 
was commissioned by the proprietors of the Cincin- 
24 



282 INCIDENTS OF THE "WAR, 

nati Commercial to proceed to Murfreesboro as their 
" Special," and telegraphed to General Garfield for the 
requisite permission. Judge of my surprise upon re- 
ceiving the following dispatch from General Garfield : 

Head-quarters Army or the Cumberland, 1 
Murfreesboro, May 10, 1863. / 
Alf Burnett — Sir: The commandiBg General has heard of the 
occurrence at Triune, and refuses you permission to come to Mur- 
freesboro. J. A. GARFIELD, 

Brigadier- General and Chief of Staff. 

I immediately dispatched a batch of letters from 
prominent Generals ; also sent forward several fine in- 
troductory letters that I held, addressed to General 
Kosecrans and General Garfield. A regular diplomatic 
correspondence was opened, and, after hearing the evi- 
dence, I received a telegram to this effect : 

Alf Burnett — Report forthwith at these Head-quarters. 

J. A. GARFIELD. 
By order of Major-General Rosecrans. 

I arrived at Murfreesboro the following day, but did 
not " report," for I felt somewhat chagrined at the Gen- 
eral's crediting the stories that he had heard. The 
succeeding day, however, I met General Alex McCookj 
and his brother, the gallant Colonel Dan McCook, who 
told me that the General wanted to see me immediately ; 
that the greatest anxiety was felt at head-quarters for 
my appearance; that I had been the subject of conver- 
sation for an hour past. I immediately dismounted and 
walked into the house, presenting my card to an or- 
derly, and, in a moment, General Garfield came to the 



GENERAL GARFIELD's EXPLANATION. 283 

door witli a cordial welcome and a hearty laugli, took 
me by the hand and introduced the " Preacher from 
Hepsidam" to Major-General Kosecrans. When this 
was done, another outburst of laughter was the result. 
Major-General Turchin, Major-General Thomas, and 
the staffs of those heroes were present. General Gar- 
field and " Old Rosey" formed the party whom I was 
apprised were a court-martial now duly convened to 
try the "Preacher from Hepsidam." General R. ask- 
ing me if I was ready for trial, I told him I was, if he 
had a pair of spectacles in the "court" room. So he 
called the court to order, sent for a few of his staff, 
who were absent, and requested General Garfield to get 
me a pair of spectacles from an adjoining room. Gen- 
eral Rosecrans took advantage of General Garfield's 
absence to tell me that General Garfield had once been a 
"Hard-shell" Baptist preacher, and requested me, if I 
could, by any possibility, "bring him in," to do so. The 
sermon was given, and, afterward, the "Debate be- 
tween Slabsides and Garrotte," together with other 
pieces. At the conclusion of the " trial," the court unan- 
imously resolved that I should not only be honorably 
acquitted of all charges, but that I was henceforth to 
be allowed the freedom of the Army of the Cumberland. 
"And," said the General, " in explanation of my dispatch 
to you, refusing you permission to come here, some one 
told me you were giving a mock-religious sermon which 
so disgusted the religious sensibilities of the E. T. 0. 
that they mobbed you; and I thought if you could do 
any thing to shock their feelings, you must be a devil 
with 'four horns ; ' but, with such a face as you make, 
no wonder they were deceived." 



284 incidents of the war. 

Old Stonnicker Drummed Out of Camp. 

The illustration of this scene will be recognized by 
thousands of our soldier-boys who were occupiers of 
Virginia soil, upon the banks of the Elkwater, for some 
months during the summer and fall of 1861. Old Ston- 
nicker's was a name familiar as a household word, and 
many were the pranks played upon the poor old man. 
Ignorant, beyond description, he yet had twice been a 
"justice" of the peace, and, as he said, "sot on the 
bench." 

The scene illustrated is where Stonnicker was ar- 
rested by a " special order " from the 6th Ohio, and 
tried by an impromptu court-martial, for selling liquor 
to soldiers. The mock-trial took place amid the most 
grotesque queries and absurd improvised telegraph dis- 
patches — the hand-writing of the telegraphic dispatches 
being sworn to as that of the individuals from whom 
they were just received, the oath being, "As they sol- 
emnly hoped for the success of the Southern Confeder- 
acy." The poor wretch had actually been detected in 
selling, contrary to 'express orders, liquor to soldiers. 
He employed counsel, but, notwithstanding all they 
could do, he was sentenced, by Major Christopher, to die. 
He received his sentence with moanings and anguish; 
he was too frightened to notice the smiles or laughter 
of the crowd. He got on his knees and begged for 
mercy, and, after an hour of suspense, the Court relented, 
and commuted the sentence to being drummed out of 
camp. It is at this juncture the artist has seized the 
occasion to illustrate the scene. 

Stonnicker is a by-word to all the boys of Elkwater 



NOW AND THEN. 285 

notoriety to this day, and was, at one time, " a pass- 
word" at Louisville. 

Poor Stonnicker is dead. In trying, last fall, to ford 
that mad torrent, Elkwater, during a storm, he was 
swept from his horse and drowned. 

Andy Hall, Ned Shoemaker, Doctor Ames, and other 
notables of the " times that tried men's soles," were the 
recipients of the hospitality of another of the family of 
Stonnickers, who lived up a "ravine" about a mile 
nearer Huttonsville. Doctor Ames had musk upon his 
handkerchief, which the young lady, (?) Miss Delilah 
Stonnicker, noticing, as she waited upon the Doctor at 
the supper-table, exclaimed : * Lor', Doctor, how your 
hankereher stinks ! " 

" Does it ? " said the Doctor, coloring up to his very 
eyes, roars of laughter proceeding from all present. 

" Yaas ; it stinks just like a skunk." 

" Why, Miss Delilah, do you have skunks out here?" 
inquired the Doctor. 

" Yaas, lots on 'em up the gut oiit thar." 

Now AND ThKn. 

WRITTEN BY ENOS B. REED, 

AND RECITED BY MR. AlF BURNETT, AT THE BENEFIT OF THE lADIES' SOLDIERS' AID 
SOCIETY OF CINCINNATI, SATURDAY EVENING, JANUARY 31ST, 1863. 

In other days, as it has oft been told 
By those who sleep beneath the grave's dank mold, 
In this, our loved, but now distracted land, 
Men dwelt together as a household band; 
Brothers they were, but not alone in name, 
Sons of Columbia and Columbia's fame — 
They loved the land, the fairest 'neath the sun, 
Home of the brave — the land of Washington! 



286 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

Peaceful the rivers as tliey flowed along 
The plenteous fields, where swelled the harvest song; 
Peaceful the mountains, as thej^ reared on high 
Their snow-capped peaks unto the azure sky — 
Peaceful the valleys, where contentment smiled, 
Blessing alike the parent and the child — 
Peaceful the hearts which owned a country blest. 
And owned their God, who gave them peace and rest I 

The happy matron and the joyous maid 
Alike were blest — the unknown traveler stayed 
His weary limbs beneath their roof-tree's shade, 
While home from toil the husbandman returned, 
His honest hands the honest pittance earned, 
Willing to share his humble meal with one 
Whether from Winter's snows or Southern sun. 

No North — no South, in those the better days — 
Our starry flag o'er all — its genial rays 
Glistened amid New England's dreary snows. 
Or shone as proudly where the south wind blows: 
One flag, one nation, and one God we claimed. 
And traitors' lips had never yet defamed 
The land for which our fathers fought and bled — 
Hallowed by graves of honored patriot-dead 1 

Fruitful the earth, and fair the skies above; 
The days were blissful, and the nights were love; 
We were at peace — our land and freedom gained — 
Our fair escutcheon with no blot e'er stained — 
But all did honor to the fair young State 
Who made herself both glorious and great; 
Our Eagle — emblem of the happy free — 
Was free to soar o'er foreign land or sea! 

But darkness came, and settled like a pall 

Funereal, on our hearts; o'er one and all 

It cast its blighting, withering wing, 

A horrid, shapeless, and revolting thing — 

While dove-eyed Peace bowed down its gentle head 

And wept for those, though living, worse than dead; 



NOW AND THEN. 287 

And blood, like rivers, flowed from hill to plain 
'Till land and sea knew not their ghastly slain. 

The Northern snows incarnadined with gore — 

The Southern vales with blood, like wine, ran o'er — 

The battle raging in the morning sun, 

At night, the warfare scarcely yet begun — 

The sire, in arms to meet his foeman-son, 

Brother, to seek his brother in the strife, 

Rushed madly on — demanding life for life! 

And children, orphans made — and worse than widowed, wife! 

And this the land which erst our fathers blest, 
Favored of Heaven — the pilgrim's hope of rest — 
Now cursed by traitors, who with impious hands 
Have dared to sunder our once-hallowed bands — 
Have dared to poison with their ven'mous breath 
All that was fair— and raise the flag of death; 
Have dared to blight the country of their birth, 
Striving her name to banish from the earth! 

God of our fathers! where your lightnings now, 
To blind their vision, and their hearts to bow? 
Traitors to all that manhood holds most dear, 
Without remorse, with neither hope nor fear, 
They trail our starry banner in the dust. 
And flaunt their own base emblem in the gust; 
Like the arch-fiend, who from a Heaven once fell. 
They'd pull us down to their own fearful hell! 

A boon! God! a boon from thee we crave— 
Shine on this gloomy darkness of the grave; 
Stretch forth thine arm, and let the waves be still. 
And Union triumph, as it must and will. 
God of our Fathers! guide our arms aright, 
Be near and with us in the deadly fight; 
Columbia's banner may we still uphold, 
And keep each star bright in its azure fold. 

We mourn for those who sleep beneath the wave, 
Or on the land have found a soldier's grave; 



288 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

Each heart will be an altar to their fame, 
And ever sacred kept each glorious name. 
We '11 honor those who nobly fought and bled, 
And fighting fell, where freedom's banner led; 
Each soldier-son we '11 welcome to our arms, 
When strife has ceased its din and dread alarms! 

Our soldiers, home returning from the wars, 
Our dames shall nourish — honored scars 
Shall mark them heroes, and they live to tell 
How once they battled — battled brave and well — 
For home and country — mountain, plain, and dell— 
And how the nation like a phenix rose 
From out its ashes, spite of fiendish foes ; 
Then once again Columbia shall be blest — 
Home of the free, and land for the oppressed I 




tHEE. JONES DEL. <^ JONES-HABT 

THE PREACHER FROM HEPSIDAM. See page 308. 



AN INCIDENT OF THE 5tH 0. V. I. 289 



CHAPTEE XXXII. 

An Incident of the 5th 0. V. I. — How to Avoid the Draft — Keep the Sot- 
DiEEs' Letters — New Use of Blood-hounds — Proposition to Hang the Dutch 
Soldiers — Stolen Stars. 

An Incident of the 5th 0. V. I. 

There is no regiment in the service that has won 
more enviable renown than the glorious old 5th; and, 
although I have met them but twice in my peregrina- 
tions, I can not let them go unnoticed in this volume. 
Many of the boys I knew intimately — none better than 
young Jacobs, who was killed near Fredericksburg, 
Virginia. A writer in the Cincinnati CoTnmercial, soon 
after his death, penned the following merited tribute to 
his memory : 

Noble deeds have been recorded, during the past two 
years, of the faithful in our armies, who have strug- 
gled amid carnage and blood to consecrate anew our 
altar of liberty — deeds which have stirred the slum- 
bering fires of patriotism in ten thousand hearts, and 
revived the nation's hope. I can well conceive that it 
would be asking too much to record every merited 
deed of our brave officers and men ; but, while too 
many have strayed from the ranks when their strong 
arms have been most needed, will you allow a passing 
25 



290 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

tribute to the memory of one who was always at his 
post of duty ? 

Henry C. Jacobs, a private in Company C, 5th Regi- 
ment 0. V. I., who was killed in battle near Frede- 
ricksburg, Virginia, was the second son of E. Jacobs, 
Esq., of Walnut Hills. He enlisted in May, 1861, and 
had, consequently, been in the service two years. Since 
his regiment left Camp Dennison, he had never been 
absent from it a day until he fought his last battle. I 
need not speak of his deeds of personal bravery, for he 
belonged to a regiment of heroes. For unflinching 
courage on the field of battle, the 5th Ohio has few 
parallels and no superior. In that respect, the history 
of one is the history of all. In the battle of Winches- 
ter, Henry escaped with two ball-holes in his coat. In 
the battle of Port Eepublic, only one (a young man 
from Cincinnati) besides himself, of all his company 
who were in the action, escaped capture. They reached 
the mountains after being fired at several times, and, 
two days after, they arrived at their camp. At the 
battle of Cedar Mountain the stock of his gun was 
shattered in his hands by a rebel shot. He was in the 
battles of Antietam and South Mountain, and in over 
twenty considerable skirmishes. 

Last autumn, his sister wrote, urging him to ask for 
a furlough and visit home, if but for a few days. His 
answer was : " Our country needs every man at his post, 
and my place is here with my regiment till this rebel- 
lion is put down." No young man could be more de- 
votedly attached to his home, yet he wrote, last winter : 
" I have never asked for a furlough since I have been 
in the service; but, if you think father's life is in dan- 



AN INCIDENT OF THE 5tH 0. V. I. 291 

ger from the surgical operation wliicli is to be per- 
formed upon his arm, I will try to get home; for you 
do not know how deeply I share with you all in this 
affliction." 

His talents and education fitted him for what his 
friends considered a higher position than the one he 
occupied. Accordingly, application was made to the 
Governor to commission him as a lieutenant in one of 
the new regiments. In signing the application, Pro- 
fessor D. H. Allen, of Lane Seminary, prefaced his sig- 
nature as follows : " I know no young man in the ranks 
who, in my opinion, is better qualified for an officer in 
the army than Henry C. Jacobs." In this opinion 
W. S. Scarborough, Esq., Colonel A. E. Jones, and 
many others who were personally acquainted with him, 
heartily concurred. Such encouragement was received 
from the Governor as led his sister to write, congratu- 
lating him upon the prospect of his appointment. His 
answer was : " I had rather be a private in the 5th 
Ohio than captain in any new regiment. In fact, I do 
not want a commission. When I enlisted, it was not 
for pay; I never expected to receive one dollar. I have 
fought in many battles, and served my country to the 
best of my ability; and I wish to remain in the posi- 
tion I now occupy till the war is over." 

It is not only to offer a tribute to the memory of 
Henry that I would intrude upon your readers, but, 
by presenting an example, encourage faithfulness and 
patriotic devotion to the cause of liberty. If any man, 
officer or private, has been more faithful, his be the 
higher monument in a grateful nation's heart when 
treason is no more. He shouldered his musket, and it 
was at his country's service ever}' hour till it was laid 



292 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

down beside his bleeding, mangled body, on the banks 
of the E,appahannock, If my country ever forgets such 
heroes as these, her very name should perish forever. 
Young men whose hearts are not stirred within them 
to rush into the breach, avenge the fcxllen brave, and 
save their country, are making for themselves no envi- 
able future. Who that calls himself a man will sit 
with folded arms and careless mien, under the shade 
of the tree of liberty, while the wild boar is whetting 
his tusks against its bark, and the gaunt stag rudely 
tears its branches ? It was planted in tears and watered 
with blood; and if you do not protect it now, your 
names will perish. 

Henry had made two firm resolves : one was to keep 
out of the hospital, and the other was to keep out of 
the hands of the rebels. He would not be taken a 
prisoner, and, if die he must, he preferred the battle- 
field to the hospital. He has realized his wish, and 
though the bitterness of our anguish at his loss may 
only wear out with our lives, our country, in his death, 
has lost more than his kindred. We are making his- 
tory for all time to come. Eternity will tell its own 
story of unending joy for those who have freely shed 
their blood to lay a firm foundation for the happiness 
of millions yet unborn. 

"Give me the death of those 
Who for their country die; 
And 0! be mine lilce their repose, 
When cold and low they lie! 

" Their loveliest Mother Earth 
Entwines the fallen brave; 
In her sweet lap who gave them birth 
They iiud their tranquil grave." 



HOW TO AVOID THE DRAFT. 293 



How TO Avoid the Deaft. 

During the troubles of raising men, a rough-looking 
customer, determined upon evasion, called upon the Mil- 
itary Commission, when the following colloquy ensued, 
the individual in question remarking : 

" Mr. Commissioner, I 'm over forty-five." 

" How old are you ? " 

'' I do n't know how old I am ; but I 'm over forty- 
Jive." 

" In what year did you make your appearance on 
this mundane sphere ? " 

" I do n't know what you mean ; but I 'm over forty- 
five." 

"When were you born?" 

" I do n't know; but I 'm over forty -five." 

"How am I to know you are over age?" 

" I do n't know and I do n't care; but I 'm over forty- 
five." 

" When were you forty-five ? " 

" I do n't know ; but I know I 'm over forty-five." 

" You must give me some proof that you are over 
age." 

" I 've been in the country thirty-six years, and I 'm 
over forty-five." 

" That does not prove that you are too old to be 
drafted." 

"I don't care; I know 'I'm over forty-five." 

" I shall not erase your name until you prove your 
age." 

" I tell you I 've been in this country thirty-six years, 



294 INCIDENTS OF THE WAPw 

and I went sparking before I came here, and I 'm over 
forty-five." 

"Will you swear it?" 

" Yes, I 'm over forty-five. D — d if I aint over 
forty-five." 

" Well, I will exempt you." 

" I do n't care whether you do or not, for I^ve got a, 
wooden leg." 

New Use of Blood-hounds. 

One fine summer's Sunday afternoon, as a steamboat 
was stopping at a landing on the Mississippi to take in 
wood, the passengers were surprised to see two or three 
young, athletic negroes perched upon a tree like mon- 
keys, and about as many blood-hounds underneath, bark- 
ing and yelping, and jumping up in vain endeavors to 
seize the frightened negroes. The overseer was stand- 
ing by, encouraging the dogs, and several bystanders 
were looking on, enjoying the sport. It was only the 
owner of some blood-hounds training his dogs, and keep- 
ing them in practice, so as to be able to hunt down the 
runaways, who often secrete themselves in the woods. 
It was thought fine sport, and useful, too, in its way, 
ten years ago. 

But now the same hounds are being made use of, all 
through Alabama and Mississippi, and, we have no 
doubt, in other of the Southern States, to hunt down 
white men hiding in the woods to escape the fierce con- 
scription act, which is now seizing about every man 
under sixty years of age able to carry a gun. Nor is 
this the worst. It is found that those camped out are 



NEW USE OF BLOOD-HOUNDS. 295 

supplied witli food brought them by their children, who 
go out apparently to play in the woods, and then slip 
off and carry provisions to their fathers. To meet this 
exigency, blood-hounds are now employed to follow these 
little children on their pious errands, and the other day 
a beautiful little girl was thus chased and overtaken in 
the woods, and there torn in pieces, alone and unaided, 
by the trained blood-hounds of Jefferson Davis ! Nor 
is this a solitary case. It appears that many white 
men, women, and children have thus been sacrificed, in 
order to carry out the conscription act in all its terrors. 
In a large number of cases, those who are thus hunted 
down are such as have in some way exhibited Union 
proclivities ; for, although such have ceased to offer any 
opposition to the rebels, they do not like taking up 
arms against the flag of the Union, to which many of 
them have, in former days, sworn allegiance. These 
persons, and all suspected, are especially marked out as 
objects of the conscription and the blood-hound, be their 
ages and fighting qualities what they may. And these 
are the men hunted down with dogs, and their wives 
and their children, if they attempt to follow them. 
There are, however, many men not Unionists, and will- 
ing to contribute of their property to any amount to 
support the rebels, but now being drawn into the con- 
scription, or, having tasted the desperate neglects of the 
rebel service, have deserted, and will not again take up 
arms. Their wives are ladies, most delicate and ten- 
der, and their children brought up with a refinement 
and delicacy of the most perfect character, until this 
war began. And these are the women that now have to 
wander alone in the woods, in search of their husbands 



296 INCIDENTS OF THE WAE. 

and brothers and sons ; and these are the little girls, 
who, going to carry food to their relatives, are liable at 
any moment to be overtaken by swift hounds, let loose 
and set upon their track by the agents of Jefferson 
Davis. 

It may be doubted if war itself, ever but once in the 
history of mankind, proved so disastrous to a people, 
by the hands of those engaged in carrying it on. Per- 
haps, in the. final destruction of Jerusalem, there may 
have been scenes of greater and more fiendish cruelty 
by the factions of John and Simon destroying each 
other, while both were at war with the Romans. And 
what must be the state of the South, when a delicate 
woman, who would hardly set her feet on the ground 
for delicacy, and used to have servants to attend upon 
her every wish and want, is reduced to straits like 
these, and children are torn to pieces by the dogs of 
humble hunters after white flesh for Jefferson Davis's 
shambles ! 

Keep the Soldiers' Letters. 

Mother, father, brother, sister, wife, sweetheart, keep 
that bundle sacredly ! Each word will be historic, each 
line invaluable. When peace has restored the ravages 
of war, and our nation's grandeur has made this strug- 
gle the most memorable of those great conflicts by 
which ideas are rooted into society, these pen-pictures 
of the humblest events, the merest routine details of the 
life led in winning national unity and freedom, will be 
priceless. Not for the historian's sake alone, do I say, 
keep those letters, but for your sakes who receive them. 



PROPOSITIOISr TO HANG THE DUTCH SOLDIERS. 297 

and ours who write them. The next skirmish may stop 
our pulses forever, and our letters, full of love for you, 
will be our only legacy besides that of having died in 
a noble cause. And should we survive the war, with 
health and limb uninjured, or bowed with sickness or 
crippled with wounds, those letters will be dear me- 
mentoes to us of dangers past, of trials borne, of priva- 
tions suffered, of comrades beloved. Keep our letters, 
then, and write to us all the home news and "gossip." 
Bid us Godspeed. Speak kindly, loving, courageous 
words to us. If you can't be Spartans — and we do n't 
want you to be — be " lovers, countrymen, and friends." 
So shall our feet fall lighter, and our sabers heavier ! 

Peoposition to Hang the Dutch Soldiees. 

The following specimen of "chivalric" literature is 
copied from the Knoxville Register, of June 12, 1862 : 

Of late, in all battles and in all recent incursions 
made by Federal cavalry, we have found the great 
mass of Northern soldiers to consist of Dutchmen. The 
plundering thieves captured by Forrest, who stole half 
the jewelry and watches in a dozen counties of Ala- 
bama, were immaculate Dutchmen. The national odor 
of Dutchmen, as distinctive of the race as that which, 
constantly ascending to heaven, has distended the nos- 
trils of the negro, is as unmistakable as that peculiar 
to a polecat, an old pipe, or a lager -beer saloon. 
Crimes, thefts, and insults to the women of the South 
invariably mark the course of these stinking bodies' of 
sour-krout. Ptosecrans himself is an unmixed Dutch- 
man, an accursed race which has overrun the vast dis- 



298 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

tricts of the country of the North-west. ... It 
happens that we entertain a greater degree of respect 
for an Ethiopian in the ranks of the Northern armies, 
than for an odoriferous Dutchman, who can have no 
possible interest in this revolution. 
\ Why not hang every Dutchman captured ? We will, 
hereafter, hang, shoot, or imprison for life all white 
men taken in the command of negroes, and enslave the 
negroes themselves. This is not too harsh. No human 
being will assert the contrary. Why, then, should we 
not hang a Dutchman, who deserves infinitely less of 
our sympathy than Sambo ? The live masses of beer, 
krout, tobacco, and rotten cheese, which, on two legs 
and four (on foot and mounted), go prowling through 
the South, should be used to manure the sandy plains 
and barren hill-sides of Alabama, Tennessee, and Geor- 
gia. . . . Whenever a Dutch regiment adorns the 
limbs of a Southern forest, daring cavalry raids into 
the South shall cease. . . . President Davis need 
not be specially consulted ; and if an accident of this 
sort should occur to a plundering band, like that cap- 
tured by Forrest, we are not inclined to believe our 
President would be greatly dissatisfied. 



" My young colored friend," said a benevolent chap- 
lain to a contraband, "can you read?" 
" Yes, sah," was the reply. 
" Glad to hear it. Shall I give you a paper ? " 
" Sartin, massa, if you please." 

"What paper would you choose ? " asked the chaplain. 
''If you chews, I '11 take a paper of terbacker." 



THE STOLEN STARS. 299 



" The Stolen Stars. 

[At a dinner party, at which were present Major-General Lewis 
Wallace, Thomas Buchanan Read, and James E. Murdoch, a con- 
versation sprung up respecting ballads for the soldiers. The Gen- 
eral maintained that hardly one had been written suited for the 
camp. It was agreed that each of them should write one. The 
following is that by General Wallace:] 

When good old Father Washington 

Was just about to die, 
He called our Uncle Samuel 

Unto his bedside nigh; 
"This flag I give you, Sammy, dear," 

Said AVashington, said he; 
" Where e'er it floats, on land or wave, 

My children shall be free." 

And fine old Uncle Samuel 

He took the flag from him, 
And spread it on a long pine pole, 

And prayed, and sung a hymn. 
A pious man was Uncle Sam, 

Back fifty years and more; 
The flag should fly till Judgment-day, 

So, by the Lord, he swore. 

And well he kept that solemn oath; 

He kept it well, and more: 
The thirteen stars first on the flag 

Soon grew to thirty-four; 
And every star bespoke a State, 

Each State an empire won. 
No brighter were the stars of night 

Than those of Washington. 

Beneath that flag two brothers dwelt; 

To both 'twas very dear; 
The name of one was Puritan, 

The other Cavalier. 



SOO INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

''Go, build ye towns," said Uncle Sam, 

Unto those brothers dear; 
" Build anywhere, for in the world 

You 've none but God to fear." 

"I'll to the South," said Cavalier, 

"I'll to the South," said he; 
"I'll to the North," said Puritan, 

"The North's the land for me." 
Each took a flag, each left a tear 

To good old Uncle Sam; 
He kissed the boys, he kissed the flags, 

And, doleful, sung a psalm. 

And in a go-cart Puritan 

His worldly goods did lay; 
With wife and gun and dog and ax, • 

He, singing, went his way. 
Of buckskin was his Sunday suit, 

His wife wore linscy-jeans; 
And fat they grew, like porpoises, 

On hoe-cake, pork, and beans. 

But Cavalier a Cockney was; 

He talked French and Latin; 
Every day he wore broadcloth. 

While his wife wore satin. 
He went off in a painted ship — 

In glory he did go; 
A thousand niggers up aloft, 

A thousand down below. 

The towns were built, as I've heard said; 

Their likes were never seen; 
They filled the North, they filled the South, 

They filled the land between. 
"The Lord be praised!" said Puritan; 

"Bully!" said Cavalier; 
"There's room and town-lots in the West, 

If there is n't any here." 



THE STOLEN STAES. 301 

Out to the West they journeyed then, 

And in a quarrel got; 
One said 't was his, he knew it was, 

Tlie other said 't was not. 
One drew a knife, a pistol t' other. 

And dreadfully they swore; 
From Northern lake to Southern gulf 

Wild rang the wordy roar. 

All the time good old Uncle Sam 

Sat by his fireside near, 
Smokin' of his kinnikinnick, 

And drinkin' lager-beer. 
He laughed and quaffed, and quaifed and laughed, 

Nor thought it worth his while, 
Until the storm in fury burst 

On Sumter's sea-girt isle. 

O'er the waves to the smoking fort. 

When came the dewy dawn. 
To see the flag he looked — and lo! 

Eleven stars were gone! 
"My pretty, pretty stars," he cried, 

And down did roll a tear. 
"I've got your stars, old Fogy Sam, 

Ha, ha!" laughed Cavalier. 

"I've got your stars in my watch-fob; 

Come take them if you dare!" 
And Uncle Sam he turned away. 

Too full of wrath to swear. 
"Let thunder all the drums! " he cried, 

While swelled his soul, like Mars; 
"A million Northern boys I'll get 

To bring me home my stars." 

And on his mare, stout Betsey Jane, 

To Nortliside town he flew; 
The do*s they barked, the bells did ring, 

And countless bugles blew. 



INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

"My stolen stars!" cried Uncle Sam, 

"My stolen stars!" cried he, 
"A million soldiers I must have 

To bring them back to me." 

"Dry up your tears, good Uncle Sara; 

Dry up!" said Puritan, 
"We'll bring you home your stolen stars, 

Or perish every man ! " 
And at the words a million rose, 

All ready for the fray; 
And columns formed, like rivers deep, 

And Southward marched away. 

>{i ^ H< * 

And still old Uncle Samuel 

Sits by his fireside near, 
Smokin' of his kinnikinnick 

And drinkin' lager-beer; 
While there's a tremble in the earth, 

A gleaming of the sky, 
And the rivers stop to listen 

As the million marches by. I 



4 



DEBATE BETWEEN SLABSIDES AND GAEEOTTE. 303 



DEBATE 



Rev. Ebenezer Slabsides and Honorable Felix Garrotte, 



DELIVERED BEFORE 



GENERAL ROSECRANS AND THE SOCIETY OF THE TOKI. 



The subject of discussion was; — "Who desera'ed the greatest 
praise: Mr. Columbus, for discovering America, or Mr. Wash- 
ington, FOR DEFENDING IT AFTER IT WAS DISCOVERED?" The tWO 

characters are personated by an instantaneous change of feature. 
[The Honorable Felix Garrotte arose, and said:] 

Mr. President, and Gentlemen of this Lyceum : 

I suppose the whole country is aware that I take 
sides with Mr. Kerhimbus, and I hope, Mr. President, 
that I may be allowed to go a leetle into detail in re- 
gard to the history of my hero. I find, Mr. President, 
after a deal of research, that Mr. Kerlumbus was born 
in the year 1492, at Pvome, a small town situated on the 
banks of the Nile, a small creek that takes its rise in 
the Alps, and flows in a south-westerly direction, and 
empties into the Gulf of Mexico. 

Mr. Kerlumbus's parents were poor; his father was 
a basket-maker, and, being in such low circumstances, 
was unable to give his only son that education which 
his talents and genius demanded. He therefore bound 
him out to a shepherd, who sot him to watchin' swine 



304 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

on the banks of the Nile ; and it was thar, sir, by a 
cornstalk and rush-light fire, a readin' the history of 
Eobinson Crusoe, that first inspired in his youthful 
breast the seeds of sympathy and ambition. Sympathy 
for what? Why, sir, to rescue that unfortunate hero, 
Mr. Crusoe, from his solitary and lone situation upon 
the island of Juan Fernandeze, and restore him to the 
bosom of his family in Germany. He accordingly made 
immediate application to Julius Csesar for two canoes 
and a yawl, eight men, and provisions to last him a 
three-days' cruise; but, sir, he was indignantly refused. 
He was tuk up the next day and tried by a court-mar- 
tial for treason, and sentenced to two months' banish- 
ment upon the island of Cuba — a small island situated 
in the Mediterranean Sea — which has lately been pur- 
chased by the Sons of Malta for Jefi" Davis. 

But, sir, he was not to be intimidated by this harsh 
and cruel treatment. No, sir-ee; on the contrary, he 
was inspired with renewed zeal and energy; and I can 
put into the mouth of my hero the immortal words 
which Milton spoke to the Duke of Wellington, at the 
siege of Yorktown : 

"Once more into tlie breach, dear friends!" 

Well, after the tarm of his banishment had expired, 
he returned to Puome, and he found that Cassar had 
died again, and that Alexander the Great had suc- 
ceeded him. Well, he made the same demand of Alex- 
ander that he made of Mr. Csesar, but he met with a 
similar denial; but, finally, through the intermediation 
of Cleopatra, (that was Aleck's first wife,) he ultimately- 
succeeded. 



DEBATE BETWEEN SLABSIDES AND GAEEOTTE. 305 

It is unnecessary for me to go into a detail of his 
outfit and voyage. Sufiice it to say, that, after having 
been tossed about upon waves that ran mountain-high, 
all his crew was lost, except himself and a small boy, 
and they were thrown upon the state of insensibility. 

Well, when he came-to, he rose up, in the majesty of 
his strength, and found he was upon an island ; so he 
pulled out his red cotton bandana handkercher, tied 
it to a fish-pole, and rared the stake of Alexander, and 
took formal possession of the territory in his name, and 
he called it San Salvador; that was in honor of Cleo- 
patra's eldest daughter. 

Well now, you see, Cleopatra was so well pleased with 
the honor conferred upon her daughter, that she mi- 
grated to this country for to settle ; hence you see the 
long line of distinguished antecedents that she left here 
previously, and they are known as patriots, from Cleo- 
patra. 

Now, sir, having accomplished the great and para- 
mount object of his life, he was ready for to die. The 
natives, therefore, for intrudin' upon their sile, tuk 
him prisoner, stripped him of his hunting-shirt and 
other clothing, tarred and feathered him, and rid him 
on a rail! Thus perished that truly great and good 
man, who lived and died for mankind. One more re- 
mark, Mr. President, and then I am done ; and I lay 
it down as a particular pint in my argument. If it 
had not have been for Mr. Kerlumbus, Mr. Washington 
would never have been born; besides all this, Mr. Wash- 
ington was a coward. With these remarks, I leave the 
floor to abler hands. 
26 



306 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

[Here Mr. Slabsides arose, much excited at hearing Mr. Wash- 
tou called a coward, and said:] 

Mr. President : I, sir, for one, am sureptaciously 
surprised at the quiet manner in which you have list- 
ened to the base suspersions cast upon that glorious 
and good man. Mr. Washington a coward ! Why, sir, 
lockjawed be the mouth that spoke it. Mr. Washing- 
ton a coward ! Mr. President, my blood 's a-bilin' at 
the idea. Why, sir, look at him at the battle of Tip- 
pecanoe ! Look at him at the battle of Sarah Gordon ! 
Look at him at the battle of New Orleans ! Did he 
display cowardice thar, sir, or at any of the similar bat- 
tles that he fout ? I ask you, sir, did he display cow- 
ardice at the battle of New Orleans ? 

[Mr. Garrotte arose, and responded to the question. Said he :] 

The gentleman will allow me to correct him, one 
moment. Mr. Washington, sir, never fit the battle of 
New Orleans. He could n't have fout that battle, for 
he 'd been dead more 'n two weeks afore that ar battle 
was ever fout. He never fit the battle of New Orleans. 

Mr. Slabsides. — Will the gentleman — will Mr. Gar- 
rotte please state who it was that fit the battle of New 
Orleans ? The gentleman has seen fit to interrupt me ; 
will he please to state who it was fit the battle of New 
Orleans ? 

Hon. Felix Garrotte. — If the gentleman will have 
patience to turn to Josephus, or read Benjamin Frank- 
lin's History of the Black-Hawk War, you will thar 
learn, sir, that it was General Douglas that fit the bat- 
tle of New Orleans. 

Mr. Slabsides. — I thank my very learned oppo- ' 



DEBATE BETWEEN SLABSIDES AND GAEROTTE. 307 

nent, not only for his instructions, but more especially 
for liis corrections, in which he has shown himself 
totally ignorant of history, men, and things. I con- 
tend, Mr. President, notwithstanding the gentleman's 
assertion to the contrary, that Mr. Washington not 
only fit the battle of New Orleans, but that he is alive 
now, sir ! I have only to pint you, Mr. President, and 
gentlemen of this lyceum, to his quiet and retired 
home at Sandoval, on the banks of the Tombigbee 
River, whar he now resides, conscious of his private 
worth and of the glorious achievements heaped upon 
his grateful brow by his aged countrymen; and allow 
me to call your attention to the fact that General 
Douglas never fit the battle of New Orleans, He 
could n't have font that battle, cause he was dead. 
Yes, sir, and I can prove it, if you '11 have the patience 
to turn and look over Horace Greeley's History of the 
Kansas Hymn-book War ; for there you will find that 
General Douglas, at the head of an army of negroes, 
made a desperate charge on Mason and Dixon's line, 
and Horace said he never breathed afterward. 

[Hereupon the speaker left in disgust at the ignorance of his 
opponent.] 



308 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

A Sermon from the Harp of a Thousand Strings. 

PREACHED BEFORE GENERAL ROSECRANS AND STAFF. 



My Beluved Beethering: 

I am a plain and unlarnt preacher, of whom you 've 
no doubt heern on afore ; and I now appear to expound 
the scripters, and pint out the narrow way which leads 
from a vain world to the streets of the Juroosalum ; and 
ray tex which I shall choose for the occasion is some- 
whar between the second Chronikills and the last chap- 
ter of Timothy Titus, and when found you will find it 
in these words : "And they shall gnaw a file, and flee 
unto the mountains of Hepsidam, whar the lion roareth 
and the whang-doodle mourneth for its first-born." 

Now, my beluved brethering, as I have afore told 
you, I am an unedicated man, and know nothing about 
grammar talk and collidge highfaluting ; but I 'm a 
plain, unlarnt preacher of the Gospil, what 's been fore- 
ordained, and called to expound the scripters to a dyin' 
world, and prepare a perverse generation for the day 
of wrath ; " for they shall gnaw a file, and flee unto the 
mountains of Hepsidam, whar the lion roareth and the 
whang-doodle mourneth for its first-born." 

My beluved brethering, the text says " they shall 
gnaw a file." It do n't say they may, but they shall. 
And now, there 's more 'n one kind of file : there 's the 
hand-saw file, rat-tail file, single file, double file, and 
profile; but the kind of file spoken of here is n't one of 



I 



A SERMON. 309 

them kind neither, because it 's a figger of speech, my 
brethering, and means goin' it alone, getting ukered; 
" for they shall gnaw a file, and flee unto the mountains 
of Hepsidam, whar the lion roareth and the whang- 
doodle mourneth for its first-born." 

And now, there be some here with fine clothes on thar 
backs', brass rings on thar fingers, and lard on thar har, 
what goes it while they 're young ; and thar be brothers 
here what, as long as thar constitutions and forty-cent 
whisky last, goes it blind; and thar be sisters here 
what, when they get sixteen years old, cut thar tiller- 
ropes and goes it with a rush. But I say, my brether- 
ing, take care you don't find, when Gabriel blows his 
last trump, that you've all went it alone and got 
ukered; "for they shall gnaw a file, and flee unto the 
mountains of Hepsidam." 

And, my brethering, there 's more dam beside Hepsi- 
dam : thar 's Kotterdam, Haddam, Amsterdam, mill- 
dam, and don't-care-a-dam; the last of which, my dear 
brethering, is the worst of all, and reminds me of a 
circumstance I once knew in the State of Illinoy. 
There was a man what built him a mill on the east 
fork of Auger Creek, and it was a good mill, and ground 
a site of grain ; but the man what built it was a misera- 
ble sinner, and never give any thing to the church ; 
and, my brethering, one night thar come a dreadful 
storm of wind and rain, and the fountains of the great 
deep was broken up, and the waters rushed down and 
swept that man's mill-dam into kingdom come, and, lo, 
and behold ! in the morning, when he got up, he found 
he was not worth a dam. Now, my young brethering, 
when storms of tem} -tion overtake ye, take care you 



310 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 

don't fall from grace, and become like that mill — not 
worth a dam; "for they shall gnaw a file, and flee unto 
the mountains of Hepsidam, whar the lion roareth and 
the whang-doodle mourneth for its first-born." 

"Whar the whang-doodle mourneth for its first- 
born." This part of the tex, my brethering, is an- 
other figger of speech, and is n't to be taken as it says. 
It does n't mean the howlin' wilderness whar John the 
Hard-shell Baptist was ftd on locusts and wild asses ; 
but it means, my brethering, the city of New Yorleans, 
whar corn is worth six bits a bushel one day, and nary 
red the next ; whar gamblers, thieves, and pickpockets 
go skiting about the streets like weasels in a barn- 
yard; whar they have cream-colored bosses, gilded car- 
riages, marble saloons with brandy and sugar in 'em : 
whar honest men are scarcer than hens' teeth ; and whar 
a strange woman once tuk in your beluved preacher, 
and bamboozled him out of two hundred and twenty- 
seven dollars; but she can't do it again, hallelujah! 
For " they shall gnaw a file, and flee unto the mount- 
ains of Hepsidam, whar the lion roareth and the whang- 
doodle mourneth for its first-born." 

Brother Flint will please pass round the hat, and let 
every Hard-shell shell out. 



THE END. 



, 



